My data

We are doing it all wrong. Empowering people with technology is currently centered around the technology only. The technology is important of course, but it is totally useless without any data. Technology is just for playing with the data.

So do we empower the user with any control over data? Can we manage data digitally as in real life? Well of course not, digital information is about making data more fluid. But making data more fluid does not mean doing it to all data. The principles if privacy should be valid independent of format.

• Private data should be as private as in a bank box. If the individual chooses to destroy the data, it is his or her choice.
• Shared secrets should be as secret as though it was shared with real friends. Sometimes information will leak.
• Published data should assimilate. As in real life. It would be impossible to control the flow
• Observations can be recorded, but no personal information should be stored without consent

Given these simple rules, it should be the individual deciding which risks to take. Facebook, Google or governments should be in no position to decide what risks to take with any data.

That does not mean any data can be gathered by trusted parties, but what and how data is collection should be open. It must always be possible to opt out. That does not exclude companies and governments from monitoring activity. It should just be recorded as impersonal observations. As in real life.