Everyday now there is more and more discussion on Privacy. On the one hand you have the Privacy advocates who want nothing more than complete control over every aspect of their Privacy, and then on the other hand you have the Govt. and online content providers who want even more detailed information on you.
It's becoming like a Seinfeld episode - "something's got to give Jerry!".
But what? Privacy is really an oxymoron unto itself. If you de-identify data enough it has no value in which case the experience isn't going to be that great because Web sites are built around figuring out who you are.
Two articles appeared on the Web today:
- How 'Do Not Track' Could Kill The Internet Startup Economy
- Developer Builds Privacy-enhancing Web Browser for Apple Devices
Also I'm starting to see Do Not Track show up in public company filings - saying that it could effect earnings. Let's face it the Web has been built on the premise that in exchange for "free" I get to use your information. So it could be a huge drain on resources if this standard gets implemented. And now we're also seeing new browsers pop-up (no pun intended) that basically anonymize your tracks on the Internet, but slows down your experience.
What continues to perplex me is that no one is turning this problem "on it's head" and looking at it from a different perspective. It's an opportunity vs a problem.
Lets face it nobody is going to suddenly overturn the last 10 years on the Internet. We're all addicted to free and we basically turn a blind eye to Web sites using my private data. However with Mobile showing up to the party things are beginning to change. Mobile is deemed "really personal" and so we want to be sure that nobody is tracking us while we walk around.
So can we really ever have our "cake and eat it to?"
Well yes - I think we can. I wrote about how in a previous blog (A Contextual Approach to Online Privacy - It's all about Me) but it bears repeating. What's going to be needed is a way to placate both "stakeholders" - Me the consumer and You the content provider.
What I want is:
- Convenience
- Privacy
- Control
What the Content Provider wants is:
- Control
- Commerce ($$$)
What we have to do is "align" those two sides and give them away to resolve the differences - when we align those sides you'll see the real power of the Internet realized for the first time.
So instead of trying to create more complexity, instead look for more simplicity. Alignment vs disorder. And as usual the answer will be staring us in the face.
1 comment:
Makaseh is exactly what Prof Lessig has advocated. The free version is slated for distribution on the 1st of July. Please check our 2 min video at http://makaseh.wordpress.com
It will be seen that Makaseh would create an environment that
a. allows cyberspace users to securely store their data in their own computers or on the cloud.
b. provide a user id that could be used globally in different environments such as family, business, friends and general public environments.
c. Generate a user friendly coding and transmission protocols that would make sharing data between users simple and secure
d. Make cyber space a congenial and secure environment without the threats of being hacked and bruised.
“It is time that Internet privacy is protected and cyberspace made a congenial and secure environment for anyone to transact their business” asserted Mr. Beracah John Martyn, Marketing Director for Owtsar Technologies. We have conceived this system putting into use the enormous experience we have gained through the year in developing good encryption protocols, sharing methods and office utilities. Combining all of them together we have put Makaseh in place.
Social networking, chats, sharing documents, files, online businesses, even placing information on the web for users without being harassed by manipulative SEO’s are the features that will be available free to all users.
The enterprise version with corporate emails, documents and file sharing and management will be offered for a small fee. Banks can use the Makaseh id of customers to transact online business without any concerns whatsoever. Even if someone has the card details, still they wont be able to transact any business if it is done with a Makaseh id.
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