Free Gmail accounts, Twitter for news, WhatsApp for quick communication, YouTube for videos, Spotify for music, Netflix for movie nights—and let’s not forget, your next Amazon delivery is usually just a day away.

We’ve become accustomed to digital convenience. Almost every day, there’s something new to download or try out. While some of these apps and services are just for fun, others have become integral to our daily lives and identities.

But this digital convenience comes at a cost. The companies that offer these mostly free services are collecting, analyzing, and selling our data. They use this data to keep us hooked, influence our choices, and target us with ads.

The New Reality of Digital Dependency

Bruce Schneier, author of Data and Goliath, compares the big tech companies to feudal lords who keep us, the “peasants,” in a kind of technological dependency that’s hard to escape.

Is iPhone vs. Android Really the Right Question?

We often debate whether the iPhone is better than Android or if Kaspersky Antivirus is more effective than Bitdefender. But the real question we should be asking is: Is a technology truly trustworthy? Does a service provider respect our privacy? Can we be sure that promises will be kept, even after a company is acquired?

What Makes a Provider Trustworthy?

1. Data Minimization:
   A trustworthy provider collects only the data necessary to run their service and ensures that this data is regularly and securely deleted.
2. Strong Encryption:
   Encryption is essential in our digital world. End-to-end encryption (E2E) ensures that only you can access your data. This data should always be stored and transmitted in encrypted form.
3. Open-Source Software:
   Open-source software allows the community (through independent experts) to regularly check that an application does what it’s supposed to do—no hidden surveillance or backdoors.
4. Transparency Reports:
   Trustworthy companies often publish transparency reports, disclosing how often they share user data with governments or third parties. This openness is a good sign of a provider’s commitment to privacy.
5. Third-Party Audits:
   Providers that undergo third-party security audits demonstrate a commitment to privacy and security. These audits verify that the company’s practices meet industry standards and that their privacy claims are legitimate.
6. User Reviews and Community Feedback:
   Feedback from other users and experts, especially in privacy-focused communities, can provide valuable insights into whether a service truly respects user privacy.
7. Privacy by Design:
   Investigate whether the provider follows the principle of “privacy by design,” where privacy is integrated into every stage of product development.
8. Data Portability:
   Check if the service allows you to easily export your data. A trustworthy provider should give you the freedom to move your data to another platform without unnecessary obstacles.
9. Commitment to Open Standards:
   Providers that adhere to open standards are often more trustworthy. These standards ensure compatibility with other secure services and reduce the risk of vendor lock-in.
10. Ethical Business Practices:
    Companies that act ethically ensure that their customers remain protected even after a merger or acquisition. Models like steward-ownership guarantee that a company’s primary purpose is to fulfill its mission rather than maximize profits.

New Challenges in the Digital Age

Artificial Intelligence and Surveillance: As AI technology advances, surveillance practices are becoming more sophisticated. Deepfakes and AI-driven analysis of large datasets present new threats to our privacy.

Political Manipulation Through Data: The use of data to influence political decisions and manipulate public opinion is one of the biggest challenges we face today. The Cambridge Analytica scandal is just one example of the power such data can wield.

Some examples of trustworthy technologies and services that prioritize user privacy and security:

• Signal:
  A messaging app known for its strong encryption and commitment to privacy. Signal uses end-to-end encryption for all communications, and it’s open-source, allowing independent audits to verify its security.
• ProtonMail:
  A secure email service based in Switzerland, ProtonMail offers end-to-end encryption and is committed to protecting user data. It’s open-source and doesn’t track or log user activity.
• Brave Browser and Search Engine:
  A privacy-focused web browser that blocks ads and trackers by default. Brave also offers features like Tor integration for anonymous browsing and rewards users with tokens for viewing privacy-respecting ads.

Looking Forward: A World Without Dependency

Can you imagine deleting your Instagram account out of conviction? Would you switch from WhatsApp to a more privacy-focused service like Signal? Making these choices could be the first step toward freeing yourself from digital addiction and taking back control of your privacy.

CloudPirat FAQ, Steward Ownership, 20.08.2024

CloudPirat FAQ, Privacy by Design: A Short Explanation, 20-08.2024

Cover image is from Peggy_Marco from pixabay.com