Accountable Tech
Washington, DC-based nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2020 holding Big Tech accountable through research, policy advocacy, and coalitions on surveillance advertising, youth online safety, data privacy, and AI regulation. Announced wind-down in 2025 to focus investment on partner Design It For Us.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Accountable Tech does
Accountable Tech is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2020 by Nicole Gill and Jesse Lehrich to hold large technology companies accountable for digital justice harms. Its work targets surveillance advertising, youth online safety, data privacy, antitrust, disinformation, AI regulation, and election integrity, executed through a mix of research publications, polling (in partnership with Data For Progress), coalition coordination with 50-60+ civil society organizations, digital and TV advertising campaigns, and direct engagement with federal and state policymakers. The organization maintained a small team (approximately 9 staff) anchored by Co-Founder/Executive Director Nicole Gill, Co-Founder Jesse Lehrich, and a leadership group covering policy, campaigns, communications, and operations. Notable outputs include popularizing the term "surveillance advertising" in industry discourse, exposing Google retention of abortion seekers' location data post-Roe, and joint investigations with Design It For Us into Instagram Teen Accounts.
The organization operates no commercial products and generates no product or service revenue. Its funding derives from donations, grants, and coalition-related contributions typical of a 501(c)(4) advocacy entity. Distribution of its work occurs through media relations (Washington Post, NYT, CNN, Reuters, Axios), coalition open letters, six-figure paid TV and digital ad buys, social media presence across Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and direct advocacy with regulators and members of Congress. Accountable Tech is not a technology vendor: there is no proprietary platform, no API, no AI model, and no commercial customer base.
In 2025, after five years of operations, Accountable Tech announced it would wind down independent operations and redirect investment into its youth-led partner organization, Design It For Us (DIFU). The decision was framed as doubling down on youth leadership in the digital justice movement rather than as a financial failure. The organization also continued active regulatory advocacy through mid-2025, including co-leading opposition to a proposed federal AI moratorium and supporting Vermont's Kids Code / Age Appropriate Design Code and New York's RAISE Act.
Accountable Tech firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Accountable Tech
- Legal name
- Accountable Tech
- Website
- https://accountabletech.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Washington, DC-based nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 2020 holding Big Tech accountable through research, policy advocacy, and coalitions on surveillance advertising, youth online safety, data privacy, and AI regulation. Announced wind-down in 2025 to focus investment on partner Design It For Us.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Accountable Tech industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Tech Policy Advocacy
- NAICS
- Public Relations Agencies (541820), Public Relations Agencies (54182)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Government Accountability, Ethics & Anti-Corruption Advocacy (BPAGAFAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK), Policy Management, Training & Ethics/Whistleblowing (BPAEAPAI)
Keywords
Where Accountable Tech is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Accountable Tech business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, Accountable Tech is funded through donations, grants, and potentially membership contributions. The organization conducts advocacy work targeting Big Tech companies and advocating for digital justice and tech accountability.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Accountable Tech product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Accountable Tech is a nonprofit advocacy organization that conducts research, publishes reports and polling, builds coalitions with civil society groups, and runs digital and TV advertising campaigns to hold Big Tech companies accountable. Its work focuses on surveillance advertising, youth online safety, data privacy, AI regulation, antitrust, and election integrity. The organization engages directly with federal and state policymakers, attorneys general, and regulators to advance tech accountability legislation.
Product overview
Accountable Tech was a nonprofit tech watchdog and advocacy organization, not a product company. The organization did not offer commercial products or services. Its activities included publishing research reports, conducting polling on tech accountability issues, issuing public statements, organizing advocacy campaigns, and building coalitions focused on holding Big Tech companies accountable. The organization worked on issues including surveillance advertising, youth online safety, AI regulation, antitrust, privacy, and democracy. In 2025, after five years of operations, Accountable Tech announced it would wind down and focus its efforts on its partner organization, the youth-led coalition Design It For Us (DIFU).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Defined 'surveillance advertising' as industry-wide term now used universally
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Accountable Tech
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Accountable Tech technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Accountable Tech partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Design It For Us (DIFU)coreYouth-led coalition focused on tech accountability and youth online safety. After five years of operations, Accountable Tech announced wind-down to focus investment on this partner. Accountable Tech worked with DIFU on Instagram Teen Account investigations and research. Zamaan Qureshi serves as co-chair of Design It For Us while also working as campaigns associate at Accountable Tech.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Accountable Tech competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Common Sense Media: Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization that rates and reviews media for children and advocates for kids' digital safety. It is closely comparable to Accountable Tech's youth online safety and Instagram Teen Account advocacy work.
- Fight for the Future: Fight for the Future is a nonprofit digital rights advocacy group known for running high-profile online campaigns and protests targeting Big Tech. It is comparable to Accountable Tech in its grassroots-driven, campaign-focused approach to tech accountability.
- Free Press: Free Press is a nonpartisan nonprofit advocating for diverse and independent media, and for policies that protect democratic participation. It is comparable to Accountable Tech in its focus on Big Tech accountability, media reform, and democracy-related tech policy issues.
- Public Knowledge: Public Knowledge is a public interest advocacy organization focused on competition, privacy, and open internet issues. It shares Accountable Tech's policy advocacy focus on antitrust, Big Tech reform, and consumer protection in digital spaces.
- New America Open Technology Institute: Open Technology Institute at New America is a policy and advocacy organization focused on internet openness, privacy, and surveillance. It is comparable to Accountable Tech in its tech policy advocacy mission and engagement with federal and state-level regulators.
- Open Markets Institute: Open Markets Institute is a think tank that advocates for stronger antitrust enforcement and competitive markets, particularly against Big Tech consolidation. It is closely comparable to Accountable Tech's antitrust and platform accountability work.
- Center for Democracy & Technology: CDT is a nonpartisan nonprofit that works to shape policy and legal frameworks protecting civil rights and civil liberties online. It is closely comparable to Accountable Tech in focus on tech accountability, surveillance advertising, youth online safety, and AI regulation advocacy.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation: EFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advocates for digital privacy, free expression, and technology policy reform. Both EFF and Accountable Tech operate as tech accountability advocacy organizations working on issues including surveillance, privacy, and platform regulation, making them directly comparable in purpose and method.
Broad incumbents
- Mozilla Foundation: Mozilla Foundation is a larger nonprofit that advocates for a healthy internet through research, advocacy, and grants. It is comparable to Accountable Tech in its broader tech accountability and internet health mission, though with substantially larger resources and a different product-adjacent identity.
Emerging players
- AI Now Institute: AI Now Institute is a research institute studying the social implications of AI and advocating for responsible AI policy. It is comparable to Accountable Tech's emerging focus on AI regulation as reflected in its 2025 statements on the AI moratorium.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Accountable Tech social profiles
Digital presenceAccountable Tech financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Accountable Tech leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Accountable Tech funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Accountable Tech M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Accountable Tech
What does Accountable Tech do?
Accountable Tech is a nonprofit advocacy organization that conducts research, publishes reports and polling, builds coalitions with civil society groups, and runs digital and TV advertising campaigns to hold Big Tech companies accountable. Its work focuses on surveillance advertising, youth online safety, data privacy, AI regulation, antitrust, and election integrity. The organization engages directly with federal and state policymakers, attorneys general, and regulators to advance tech accountability legislation.
Is Accountable Tech a public or private company?
Accountable Tech is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently closed.
When was Accountable Tech founded?
Accountable Tech was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Accountable Tech based?
Accountable Tech is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Accountable Tech make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are Accountable Tech's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Common Sense Media, Fight for the Future, Free Press, Public Knowledge, New America Open Technology Institute, Open Markets Institute, Center for Democracy & Technology and Electronic Frontier Foundation. Mozilla Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent. AI Now Institute is listed as an emerging player.
Does Accountable Tech have an API?
No public API is recorded for Accountable Tech.
What industry is Accountable Tech in?
Accountable Tech's product category is Tech Policy Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAFAN, Government Accountability, Ethics & Anti-Corruption Advocacy, with a secondary code of BPAGALAK, Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good). Its NAICS code is 541820 and its SIC code is 7311.