This has always been the case across centuries. Information is power and grabbing or keeping it is a generational challenge.
So, you can't just put your arms down and say it is hopeless.
The Free Software Foundation fight was also hopeless when they started, look at what happened since that time and behold how software with available code dominates the market for third-party components.
It is in our hands the responsibility to act and make the new technology to respect privacy and people as much as possible.
And, please don't think this is hyperbole. Independently, over the past year, I've caught parts of this same vision from two separate (large) companies. This is the low hanging fruit. The rewards are too high, the costs are low, and there are very few downside (to the companies).