As a citizen in the 21st century, the Internet touches a lot of what I do, directly or indirectly. Due to the sheer size and complexity of the products and services we use nowadays, most of the time I know it works, but I can’t really see how it works, so I can’t be sure it’s working to my benefit or using my own private data against me in different ways.
As a technologist, I am building today the products and services of tomorrow. I am in a privileged position to combat the status quo, by advocating for best ethical practices with user data at work, and raising awareness around my friends.
How can we advocate for privacy?
Above all, by asking questions: why do certain companies provide free services? What is their revenue model? Why do they need access to our location, calendar, contacts, etc?
By seeking privacy-minded alternatives to services: tools that don’t make money from our personal data, particularly by selling it.
By paying attention to new legislation and its practical impact (e.g. GDPR); this doesn’t mean “become Data Protection Officer at your company” but can mean “actively engage with the DPO to better understand what needs to be done”
By keeping up-to-date with what is done wrong in our industry: what comes up in the news about bad data security and deliberate data mismanagement; smart people learn from their mistakes but intelligent people learn from the mistakes of others
The goal isn’t to be the heroes in the shadows, saving unsuspecting fellow citizens from the evils of the world. When we advocate for privacy, we also advocate for awareness and empowerment.