Taking back control of my data

Collectif DATA

24 / 01 / 2018

4 MIN

Every internet user is now faced on a daily basis with dozens of terms and conditions which he accepts by passively clicking “ok”. It is very hard to escape all of the so-called cookies that scan our computers.

We are the first reponsibles for the dispossession of our personal data. Yet we don’t withdraw any direct remuneration from this raw material that we supply. There is a good reason for that: the monetization of our data is the main revenue source for the GAFA platforms. The apparent free nature of their services comes in reality at the expense of our privacy.

A property right on our data

To put an end to the looting of our data by the web companies, GenerationLibre supports the introduction of a property right on personal data.

The industrial revolution forced the introduction of an intellectual property right; today’s digital revolution requires the introduction of a property right on personal data.

Inspired by the ideas of US researcher Jaron Lanier, the goal is to make each individual the legal owner of its personal data. Each one of us could then chose to sell its data to the platforms, or otherwise pay for their services to keep them.

A world premiere

This legal innovation doesn’t yet exist in any country in the world. Yet a property right is the next logical step after the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which came into force in May 2018 in the EU. Europe needs to seize this opportunity to innovate and spread its model.