Former Google boss launches scathing Silicon Valley attack urging tech giants to end the delusion that it's making the world a better place

She said: ‘You can’t go about telling your advertisers that you can target users down to the tiniest pixel, but then throw your hands up in front of the politicians and say your machines can’t figure out if bad actors are using your platform.’

She said: ‘On the surface, things seemed really important and exciting. We were doing big things! Bringing the internet to the developing world! But also, on some level, it all felt a bit off, like when you go on vacation and find yourself wondering when it’s going to feel like the Instagram pics other people have posted.’

Miss Powell also levelled criticism at Amazon and Facebook.

I hope this is a trend.