ATL279

ATL279 - Tecnology Backlash - "Techlash"

ATL279: Tech Backlash

Episode: 279

Premiere: October 16, 2026

Recorded: September 11, 2026

Hosts: Randy Johnston and Brian F. Tankersley, CPA.CITP, CGMA

Presented by: CPA Practice Advisor

Episode Summary

Technology companies have spent decades promising convenience, efficiency, and innovation. But what happens when consumers, communities, and regulators decide the costs are becoming too high?

In this episode of Accounting Technology Lab, Randy Johnston and Brian Tankersley examine the growing backlash against Big Tech, from multibillion-dollar legal settlements and privacy controversies to surveillance cameras and opposition to massive AI data centers.

The discussion explores declining public confidence in technology companies, concerns about Flock license-plate recognition cameras, and the environmental and infrastructure challenges associated with hyperscale computing facilities. Electricity consumption, water usage, noise pollution, and local opposition are creating new obstacles for an industry accustomed to rapid expansion.

For accounting professionals, these developments raise important questions about cloud computing, client confidentiality, vendor accountability, and regulatory compliance. Randy and Brian explain why trusting a familiar technology brand is no substitute for evaluating its security practices, contractual commitments, and data governance.

They also offer practical recommendations for managing vendor relationships, including reviewing privacy policies, identifying subprocessors, examining access logs, and negotiating data portability and exit provisions.

The central message: Technology remains essential to modern business, but responsible adoption requires greater transparency, stronger governance, and informed professional judgment.

Chapters

Time	Topic
00:09	Big Tech settlements and tech backlash
02:14	Amazon Prime and consumer protection
03:34	App stores and children's privacy
04:54	Flock cameras and surveillance
06:05	Declining confidence in technology companies
09:49	Surveillance governance failures
13:43	Opposition to AI data centers
16:54	Electricity, water and environmental costs
18:45	State privacy regulation
20:28	Grid capacity and hyperscale computing
22:35	Practical guidance for accounting firms
26:30	Vendor accountability

Quotable Moments

• 06:05 — Brian Tankersley: "The public confidence in large tech companies is down at 20%."
• 09:49 — Brian Tankersley: "The legitimate technologies can create governance failures."
• 17:43 — Randy Johnston: "If you don't have water, it's a bad day."
• 22:35 — Brian Tankersley: "When you use cloud services, you want to make sure you own the data and you can get your data out."
• 22:35 — Brian Tankersley: "Transparency about subprocessors is non-negotiable."
• 26:30 — Randy Johnston: "We have to assume that many of these bigger, well-known vendors may not be doing all their job on governance."

Promotional Copy

Headline: Tech Backlash: When Innovation Outruns Trust

Teaser: Big Tech faces lawsuits, communities are pushing back against AI data centers, and surveillance systems are raising uncomfortable questions. What does the growing tech backlash mean for accounting firms and their clients?

Social Media Posts

1. The techlash is here

Big Tech is facing growing scrutiny from consumers, regulators, and communities. From privacy settlements to AI data center opposition, the rules are changing. #ATL279 #AccountingTechnology

2. Big Tech, little trust?

Public confidence in major technology companies has reportedly fallen to 20%. Should accounting firms rethink how they evaluate technology partners? #TechBacklash #CPA

3. Your data. Their rules?

When your client data lives in the cloud, who can access it? Who audits that access? And can you get your data back? #DataGovernance #CloudSecurity

4. The AI infrastructure reckoning

AI needs computing power. Computing power needs electricity, water, and land. Communities are questioning who pays the price. #AI #DataCenters

5. Surveillance or security?

License-plate recognition cameras can help solve crimes, but access without proper controls creates serious privacy risks. #Privacy #Governance

6. The hidden cost of convenience

A subscription you did not intend to purchase. An app-store fee you cannot avoid. A privacy policy you never read. #ConsumerProtection #BigTech

7. The vendor exit test

Before you sign a new cloud agreement, ask: How do we get our data out if the relationship ends? #VendorRisk #AccountingFirms

8. Trust, but verify

A familiar brand name is not proof of strong security controls. Ask for evidence, review the contract, and understand vendor responsibilities. #Cybersecurity #CPA

9. What powers AI?

The AI revolution is about substations, cooling systems, water supplies, and communities living beside infrastructure. #AIInfrastructure #TechBacklash

10. Who is watching the watchers?

Without access logs, oversight, and accountability, surveillance tools can be misused. #Privacy #InternalControls

11. A state-by-state compliance puzzle

Privacy regulation is increasingly a state-level issue. Firms operating across state lines need a compliance roadmap. #Compliance #DataPrivacy

12. Your cloud provider has providers

Do you know which subprocessors can handle your clients information? Revisit your vendor due diligence. #ThirdPartyRisk #Cloud

13. AI versus the power grid

Can electricity infrastructure keep up with hyperscale AI development? Randy and Brian explore why this matters. #Energy #ArtificialIntelligence

14. The accounting profession role

Accountants can help clients evaluate technology risk, contract provisions, regulatory exposure, and data ownership. #CAS #TrustedAdvisor

15. Transparency is a control

Privacy policies, audit evidence, access logs, and identified subprocessors belong in serious vendor evaluations. #RiskManagement #AccountingTechnology

16. The data center next door

Construction jobs and investment sound attractive. But what about noise, water consumption, and electricity rates? #DataCenters #Community

17. Plan your exit before you enter

A technology contract is like a partnership agreement: exit provisions matter most when things stop going to plan. #CloudComputing #BusinessContinuity

18. Technology is not the enemy

The problem is not innovation itself. It is innovation without sufficient accountability, transparency, and governance. #ResponsibleTech #AI

19. Do not confuse compliance with trust

A checklist does not answer every question about data access, retention, privacy, and vendor behavior. #Governance #CyberRisk

20. New episode: Tech Backlash

ATL279 premieres October 16! Big Tech settlements, surveillance, AI data centers, and vendor-risk lessons for accountants. #AccountingTechnologyLab #ATL279

Companies and Services Mentioned

Company or service	X	Facebook	LinkedIn	Instagram
Meta / Facebook	Meta	Meta	meta	meta
Google	Google	Google	google	google
Microsoft / Azure	Microsoft	Microsoft	microsoft	microsoft
Amazon / Prime	amazon	Amazon	amazon	amazon
Apple / App Store	Not verified	apple	apple	apple
TikTok	tiktok_us	tiktok	tiktok	tiktok
Alibaba	AlibabaGroup	Alibaba.com	alibaba-group	alibaba.com_official
Zoho	zoho	zoho	zoho	zoho
Flock Safety	Not verified	Not verified	flock-safety	Not verified
Kalshi	Kalshi	Not verified	kalshi	kalshi
23andMe	23andMe	23andMe	23andme	23andme
Tennessee Valley Authority	TVAnews	TVA	tennessee-valley-authority	tvanews

Newsletter Copy

Big Tech is facing a growing backlash. In ATL279, Randy Johnston and Brian Tankersley discuss settlements, surveillance, AI data centers, and the practical governance questions accounting firms should ask about cloud providers. Premieres October 16, 2026.

Editorial Note

Figures and allegations discussed in the episode reflect the transcript and should be independently fact-checked before publication as established facts. Social accounts have not been individually verified.