Mark MacGann warned that governments aren’t doing enough to regulate the sector.

Earlier this year, Mark MacGann, former chief lobbyist for rideshare company Uber in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, leaked a large quantity of internal documents showcasing its questionable business practices and disregard of local laws. During the Web Summit in Lisbon on Wednesday, MacGann made an appearance, warning that Uber’s problems are merely a symptom of a much bigger sustainability issue taking root in the tech industry.

“Governments and democracy are losing this battle in trying to regulate … big tech,” said MacGann. “Some of these tech firms have become too big to govern, too big to regulate and are richer and more powerful than some of the states that are trying to regulate them.”

National governments have been working to exert more oversight over the global tech industry, with the EU in particular seeking to enact the Digital Services Act to clamp down on predatory advertising and monetization practices. However, this and other legislation has met with regular roadblocks and setbacks as powerful organizations exert their control.

MacGann stressed the importance of whistleblowers like himself, offering any potential whistleblowers in the audience of the Summit some words of advice. “Remember why you joined, remember the power of technology, the power of telecommunications, the power of brilliant software. And don’t let a few bad apples screw it all up.”

“You don’t have to change your life and be the public face to try to correct the wrongdoing. But if you stand back and say nothing, then you’re going to have that on your conscience for a long time,” he said.