Privacy-focused startups see boon in big tech’s troubles

A clutch of tech companies have sprung up over the last decade promising to protect users’ privacy – from scrapping targeted online ads to shunning personal data collection. — Dreamstime/TNS

LISBON: The leaks and controversies plaguing tech giants are driving users towards privacy-focused startups that are bidding to shake up the online market with a little help from regulators, company executives and digital rights experts say.

Last month, a Facebook whistleblower leaked documents she said showed the social media company chose profit over user safety – the latest in a series of damaging revelations about big tech that smaller rivals say are helping them to grow.