Consumer Boycotts Target Tech Giants Over Immigration Policies

Grassroots campaigns aim to pressure companies to end collaboration with controversial government enforcement efforts.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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A growing wave of consumer activism is sweeping across the United States and internationally, with boycotts increasingly targeting major tech companies over their perceived complicity with controversial government immigration policies. Spearheaded by initiatives like the 'Resist and Unsubscribe' campaign, the boycotts seek to leverage economic pressure to influence political and social change, going beyond simple product avoidance to challenge the power of tech giants deeply embedded in daily life.

Why it matters

These boycotts represent a significant shift in consumer activism, moving beyond past examples targeting individual products or companies to focus on the tech industry's influence and its entanglement with government policies. The scale and strategic nature of these campaigns demonstrate the public's willingness to alter purchasing habits to drive social and political change, even when it means forgoing the convenience of ubiquitous tech platforms.

The details

The current movement builds on a history of consumer boycotts, with past examples including campaigns against American products in Canada during trade disputes and protests against companies supporting discriminatory policies or authoritarian regimes. However, the focus on large technology companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Netflix, and Uber marks a notable escalation. Spearheaded by initiatives like the 'Resist and Unsubscribe' campaign led by NYU professor Scott Galloway, the boycotts aim to demonstrate collective economic power and potentially shift consumer habits, despite the challenge of tech companies' deep integration into daily life.

  • The 'Resist and Unsubscribe' campaign launched in February 2026.

The players

Scott Galloway

A professor at New York University who is spearheading the 'Resist and Unsubscribe' campaign targeting major tech companies.

Lucy Atkinson

A professor at the University of Texas at Austin who has commented on the difficulty of asking people to forgo companies that are so deeply embedded in their daily routines.

Brittany Trahan

An individual who has cancelled multiple streaming services and Amazon Prime in response to the boycott movement.

Lisa Shannon

An individual who has also cancelled multiple streaming services and Amazon Prime in response to the boycott movement.

Jim Pattison Developments

A Canadian company that faced potential boycotts after considering providing facilities for U.S. Immigration enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“It's very difficult to ask people to forgo companies that are so deeply embedded in their daily routines.”

— Lucy Atkinson, Professor, University of Texas at Austin

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The impact of these boycotts is not limited to the tech industry, as companies directly interacting with consumers, like Target, have also become targets. Protests have erupted at Target stores after reports surfaced that the company allowed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to operate in their parking lots, leading to a 'Target boycott' involving tactics like purchasing and immediately returning items.

The takeaway

These consumer boycotts demonstrate the growing public willingness to alter purchasing habits and exert economic pressure to drive social and political change, even when it means forgoing the convenience of ubiquitous tech platforms. While sustaining such boycotts remains challenging, the scale and strategic nature of these campaigns suggest a significant shift in consumer activism targeting the power and influence of major corporations.