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Who owns the media?
Money, wealth and ownership of the media & the tech & apps we use to access it
Money, wealth and ownership of the media & the tech & apps we use to access it
Media ownership is a big concern
Media ownership is a big concern
As of 2026 there's a severe imbalance in the distribution of media ownership inevitably increasing potential threats to the operation of diverse, fairer free speech. When Google AI was asked to check the latest status of global wealth and media ownership, it referenced research undertaken by the Guardian newspaper, the charity Oxfam and Forbes and pointed out that the owners of the world's top media and social media companies are not only in the top 1% but typically sit within the top 0.0001% of global wealth holders.
The defend campaign thinks this needs to change and is confident that the public feels the same , but if resources allow, it will undertake initial research within its means to evidence this and to insist that control of media and social media outlets is legally monitored and regulated in the public interest. defend will collaborate internationally where possible and seek and record reaction from those owners to ensure fairer, wide-ranging free speech is maintained.
Before listing the top media and social media owners it's also worth considering how free speech and wider information is accessed. In theory it can be cut off at the flick of a switch as recently demonstrated in countries such as Iran and Russia and was highlighted in August 2026 regarding Ukraine and Starlink's Elon Musk.
defend asks nation states to think through the implications of relying on single suppliers of networks and satellite systems such as Starlink, a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX. SpaceX, in turn, is primarily owned by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who serves as its CEO and holds majority voting power.
Musk's U.S based Starlink provides broadband Internet service in approximately 160 countries and territories. Starlink also accounts for approximately 75% of all active maneuverable satellites in Earth orbit . Blended with ownership of X and the development of Grok AI, there's a clear imbalance in power due to money and wealth. "We may all be born and ultimately die as equals but a baby born into poverty will have no chance of being heard or representing his nation to put things right and to create a fairer world", says Jason Tanner, Founding Director of the Defend Campaign for Free Speech.
A Government of Billionaires? A Tweet on X by Bernie Sanders, USA,
A Government of Billionaires? A Tweet on X by Bernie Sanders, USA,
September 2026
September 2026
Tech ownership, free speech & democracy
Furthermore, consideration needs to be given to the predominance and wealth of other major organisations that are currently critical in modern day free speech and information flow in many modern democracies. A search with Google AI readily reveals that Apple and Google are the world's two largest technology companies. They are the primary architects of the modern smartphone industry, controlling the operating systems (iOS and Android) that run nearly all mobile devices globally. In June 26, Defend UK notes each has a value around £4.5 trillion and that they are 2/3rd biggest companies globally. What would happen if they fell into the wrong hands?
Tech ownership, free speech & democracy
Furthermore, consideration needs to be given to the predominance and wealth of other major organisations that are currently critical in modern day free speech and information flow in many modern democracies. A search with Google AI readily reveals that Apple and Google are the world's two largest technology companies. They are the primary architects of the modern smartphone industry, controlling the operating systems (iOS and Android) that run nearly all mobile devices globally. In June 26, Defend UK notes each has a value around £4.5 trillion and that they are 2/3rd biggest companies globally. What would happen if they fell into the wrong hands?
Wealth of Top Media & Social Media Owners (Feb 2026) (Forbes)
Wealth of Top Media & Social Media Owners (Feb 2026) (Forbes)
Key to information set out below:
Owner
Primary Media/Social Asset
Estimated Net Worth
X (formerly Twitter), xAI
$775 Billion
Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads)
$225 Billion
Alphabet (Google, YouTube)
$252 Billion
Alphabet (Google, YouTube)
$232 Billion
The Washington Post, MGM, Amazon Prime Video
$235 Billion
Paramount Skydance (Owner of Paramount Pictures/CBS)
$240 Billion
Bloomberg LP (Bloomberg News)
$45.7 Billion
ByteDance (TikTok, Douyin)
$43.4 Billion
Tencent (WeChat)
$37.8 Billion
Rupert Murdoch
News Corp (Fox News, Wall St Journal, The Sun)
$18.8 Billion
is volunteer-led and exists to help people of all ages and backgrounds understand and protect their right to free speech.
is volunteer-led and exists to help people of all ages and backgrounds understand and protect their right to free speech.
Two random facts:
Free speech dates back more than 2,500 years to Athens and the right of a man to speak when on trial
Two random facts:
Free speech dates back more than 2,500 years to Athens and the right of a man to speak when on trial
The UK is the grandfather or modern democracy and free speech following its Bill of Rights dating back to 1689
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