The Internet as we know it is broken. Web giants or ‘Data States’ like Google and Facebook, have implemented patents and business models that exploit the private data of its users, threatening our right to an open, free Internet.
Unfortunately, Web giants’ flagrant disregard for the best interests of their users does not yield to national borders – the problem is international. According to the Belgium privacy commission, for example, Facebook’s new privacy policy is in violation of European law. Facebook is hardly the only culprit – Google’s terms of service (ToS) aren’t legal in Germany, for example. And yet, we continue to use these services en masse.
When it comes to everyone’s favorite “free” Internet platforms, the laws of the land seem to not apply.
For these issues, and others around the rampant abuse of ToS and data ownership, we can’t simply sit back and do nothing. Especially when the efforts of the FCC, Congress and Net Neutrality advocates are only scratching the surface. Without action, and the brainpower of Internet freedom thought leaders, the Web will continue to be a platform of distrust.
Thankfully, topics like surveillance, privacy and encryption are making their way to the forefront of mainstream culture, thanks in part to Snowden’s 2013 revelations and now the Citizenfour Oscar win. It’s the perfect time to ‘reboot” ToS, re-think data ownership and demand online privacy.
With this in mind, on Monday, March 16th at 2 p.m. CT in Austin, Texas, during SXSWi, Open-Xchange is hosting a special event at The German Haus: “Rebels Without a Clause: Rethinking Terms of Service and the Data Dilemma.” The highly energized event will feature a panel moderated by Passcode editor Mike Farrell, with panelists including Sascha Meinrath, director of The New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute, Michele Neylon, CEO of Blacknight, and myself.
We will gather to explore the hard-hitting questions impacting today’s dumb f**ks (a charming term Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been known to call his Facebook users) and other Internet citizens. Questions that will be discussed include: Why do users stay loyal to services even if they distrust them? If no one reads Terms of Service, is there hope for a trustworthy Web? What is the best way to ‘open up’ the broken Internet – through policy, new technology, opting out, or all of the above?
In an effort to #RebootToS at SXSW, we will also present the results of the Consumer Openness Index, a new annual survey of Internet users in the U.S. and Europe, which aims to understand the psychology behind their Web habits. More specifically, the research will dive into Internet users’ values, attitudes and behaviors toward their online freedom, privacy, ToS, data ownership and requirements towards openness of their online providers and data collection companies.
Join us at SXSWi as today’s Web rebels begin to hatch a plan to ‘fix’ the broken Internet. And, if you are interested in setting up a meeting with us at the show or receiving a copy of the Consumer Openness Index, please reach out to ox(at)marchpr.com
See you in Austin!
