The City Vs. Big Tech
Briarpatch|July/August 2019

Activists kicked Amazon’s HQ2 out of New York City. They ran Google’s new campus out of Berlin. Now, in Toronto, #BlockSidewalk wants to send Google – and their new “smart city” packing. As the techlash is slowly becoming organized, the battle against Big Tech has emerged as the new front in the fight for the right to the city.

Nabeel Ahmed
The City Vs. Big Tech

It was the most unusual town hall Toronto had seen in years. Even after the venue was moved to a 498-seat theatre to accommodate demand, registration filled up almost a week in advance and the rush lineup stretched around the corner. Yes, a rush lineup. For a community town hall. At the first Sidewalk Toronto Community Town Hall on November 1, 2017, the municipal was sexy again.

Inside, a veritable who’s who of Toronto’s urbanist, policy wonk, political, innovation, tech, and start-up scenes milled about. There was a hum of excitement as everyone prepared to hear about Sidewalk Labs’ vision for “the neighbourhood of the future.” And outside the glass walls of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, activists from Toronto ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, a national organization of low- and moderate-income families) chanted slogans in support of affordable housing.

This story is from the July/August 2019 edition of Briarpatch.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July/August 2019 edition of Briarpatch.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BRIARPATCHView All
PLATFORMS FOR PEOPLE, NOT PROFIT
Briarpatch

PLATFORMS FOR PEOPLE, NOT PROFIT

Digital platforms boast that they’ve “democratized” cultural production. But what would truly democratic platforms look like in Canada?

time-read
10 mins  |
January/February 2020
ORGANIZING THROUGH LOSS IN THE HEART OF OIL COUNTRY
Briarpatch

ORGANIZING THROUGH LOSS IN THE HEART OF OIL COUNTRY

The story of climate justice organizing in Alberta, at the heart of the tarsands, is the story of a group of young activists learning what it means to lose, and keep on fighting

time-read
10+ mins  |
January/February 2020
GROWING THE LABOUR MOVEMENT
Briarpatch

GROWING THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

How unions are using community gardens to engage members, nourish communities, and help strikers weather the picket line

time-read
10+ mins  |
January/February 2020
A NEW ERA FOR OLD CROW
Briarpatch

A NEW ERA FOR OLD CROW

In the Yukon’s northernmost community, the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation is reckoning with how to preserve their land and culture, amid a warming climate and an influx of tourists

time-read
10+ mins  |
January/February 2020
“At Least Hookers Get Wages”
Briarpatch

“At Least Hookers Get Wages”

The risky business of sex work in the gig economy

time-read
10+ mins  |
November/December 2019
The Literal – And Literary – Futures We Build
Briarpatch

The Literal – And Literary – Futures We Build

Briarpatch editor Saima Desai talks to two judges of our Writing in the Margins contest about Idle No More and MMIWG, ethical kinship, writing queer sex, and their forthcoming work.

time-read
9 mins  |
November/December 2019
The Cost Of A T-Shirt
Briarpatch

The Cost Of A T-Shirt

In Honduras, women maquila workers are fighting back against the multinational garment companies that they say are endangering their health and safety.

time-read
10+ mins  |
November/December 2019
Milking Prison Labour
Briarpatch

Milking Prison Labour

Canada’s prison farms are being reopened. But when prisoners will be paid pennies a day, and the fruits of their labour will likely be exported for profit, there’s little to celebrate.

time-read
10+ mins  |
November/December 2019
Bringing Back The Beat
Briarpatch

Bringing Back The Beat

In mainstream media, labour journalism has been replaced by financial reporting and business sections. But journalism students are raising the labour beat from the grave.

time-read
10 mins  |
November/December 2019
There's No Journalism On A Dead Planet
Briarpatch

There's No Journalism On A Dead Planet

Corporate media owners are killing local newspapers – which is making it impossible for everyday people to understand the on-the-ground impacts of the climate crisis

time-read
10+ mins  |
September/October 2019