Why ‘platform cooperatives’ have yet to challenge Big Tech

Summary

The concept of ‘platform cooperatives’ created ripples of interest when it was included in the UK Labour Party’s 2016 ‘Digital Democracy Manifesto’. Like the commercial platforms that now dominate many sectors of the economy, platform co-ops connect producers with consumers in transport, accommodation, culture, catering and other sectors. But, unlike Uber, Airbnb and other platform providers, they are mutually owned by participants in the platform.