Defying the mainstream: building technology that respects our rights
Profiling
Targeting.
Manipulating.
Tracking affects democracy.
But it’s all so convenient!
How to protect ourselves (individuals)
A. Avoid logging in.
Fingerprinting
B. Avoid providing your phone number.
C. Disallow cookies.
C. Disallow cookies.
D. Don’t use Gmail.
Your choices affect your friends and family.
We’re not just tracked on the web.
Avoiding it all is too much work.
Don’t blame the victim.
Our concept of privacy is being twisted.
Shouldn’t we be smart about what we share publicly?
Corporations blame us for giving up our privacy.
It is not informed consent
It’s not consent if there’s not a real choice.
There is no choice.
We’re asked to give up everything or get nothing.
The technology we use is our new everyday things.
Technology can’t fix issues of domination, oppression or discrimination.
Technology amplifies social and systemic issues.
Technology colonialism
“Intent does not erase impact.”
It’s hard to advocate for change when alternatives don’t yet exist.
We have the power to make that change.
How to build more rights-respecting technology
Build small technology
Make it easy to use.
Protecting ourselves shouldn’t just be the privilege of those with knowledge, time and money.
Make it inclusive.
Don’t be colonial.
Make it personal.
Build technology for everyday people, not just startups and enterprises.
Make it private by default.
Make your technology functional without personal information.
Consent:
Write easy-to-understand privacy policies.
Don’t use third-party consent frameworks.
Don’t use third-party services. (If you can avoid them.)
Self-host all the things.
Social media etiquette:
Make it zero-knowledge.
Ensure any information synced to another device is end-to-end encrypted.
Make it share alike.
Make it noncommercial.
Support stayups, not startups.
Support not-for-profit technology.
It feels impossible. It probably is!
1. Use small technology as a criteria
2. Seek alternatives.
3. If you can’t do it at work, do it at home.
Tin foil hats are all the rage.
Divest ourselves of unethical organisations.
Our whole approach matters.
I’m just one person.
You are not your job.
Make change happen
1. Be independent.
2. Be the advisor.
3. Be the advocate.
4. Be the questioner.
5. Be the gatekeeper.
6. Be difficult.
7. Be unprofessional.
8. Be the supporter.
Speaking up is risky and hard.
We deserve better.
Thank you!