Uncanny Valley | WIRED BIG INTV: Silicon Valley Tech Workers’ Campaign to Get ICE Out of US Cities
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Jan 30, 2026 Lisa Kahn, longtime tech worker and organizer advocating for employee power and anti-violence campaigns. Pete Worden, startup founder and former exec who organizes workers and accepts professional risk to act. They discuss the ICEout.tech campaign, why tech staff signed a public pledge, the personal and professional risks of speaking out, and how worker pressure can shift company and industry behavior.
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Fear Of Violence Drives Action
- Lisa Kahn signed because state violence and deceptive official narratives risk economic collapse and talent flight.
- She warned companies won't invest where employees fear for their safety.
Courage And Personal Risk Calculus
- Pete Worden cited Minneapolis residents' courage and his own startup-founder freedom to sign.
- He contrasted his ability to speak with colleagues who fear firing or funding retaliation.
Worker Power Has Weakened
- Employee bargaining power in tech has declined since 2016 due to layoffs and market shifts.
- Reduced retention incentive made companies less responsive to internal political pressure.