ATL279

= 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 == {| class="wikitable" ! 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 == {| class="wikitable" ! 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.