Tech Companies That Respect Your Online Privacy in 2019
You wouldn’t accept candy from strangers — so why do you accept cookies from Facebook?
On average, there are 1.2 trillion Google searches worldwide every year. The key words from these searches are used to identify user preferences, and generate unique ads, targeted to the individual user. Even if you don’t have a Google or Facebook account, it’s highly likely that you’re being tracked by a tiny tag made of bits and bytes— the Web Cookie.
Of course, we all know that cookies are being used. A warning sign flashes up and we hit Accept, conscious that it improves our user experience. I wouldn’t let a stranger plant a tracking chip on your car. But for years, I’ve been more than happy to Accept Cookies as I browse the internet. It has seemed impossible to prevent my online footprint from being tracked, catalogued, then sold back to me in targeted ads.
Even the most savvy web user can feel overwhelmed by how they’re tracked and by the lack of transparency about how their data is being used. In the year 2019, online privacy is a huge issue. It’s clear that the monopoly by tech giants Google, Facebook, and more has affected our privacy — but how can an individual user hope to boycott and have an impact?
In an age where you have little choice over what products you can use, boycotts are not your only option. A few years ago, writer Cory Doctorow proposed a solution to those at the O’Reilly Solid Conference. Users should not boycott entirely — instead they should “hedge”. Users do not have to completely stop purchasing products that disrespect their rights, but should put a fraction of the money they spend on such products and services into organisations or companies that work to change that. By doing this, users can directly influence the creation of products and services.
Of course, donating or buying products from ethical companies doesn’t change the fact that many of the online services we are advertised aren’t respecting our rights — and many of us are reluctant to change without knowing a good alternative. So, what companies and organisations exist that are working to improve online privacy for their users?
Over the next few months, I’ll be diving into the realm of ethical technology, and finding alternatives to the mainstream tech giants that you can trial for free.
This article will be the main list for ethical alternatives. Every fortnight, I’ll be uploading an in-depth articles about each technology, their ethics, and the organisations that have identifiable stakes in them.
Ethical Search Engines
Ethical Web Browsers
- Firefox
Ethical Email Providers
- ProtonMail
Ethical VPN Providers
- ProtonVPN
Ethical Tech Companies
- Mozilla
Have a company you want researched for their ethical frameworks? Contact me at alex.massey@storyseedvault@gmail.com!
