My data, my key

I want service providers to send me a welcome email with my user name, my password — and my API key.

Shared data ownership rocks
Using Mailchimp is brilliant. They manage lots of data on my behalf — but they go further: they give me an API key that I am free to use myself — or give to pretty much whoever I deem worthy. Through cloud data integration services like Zapier the world is my oyster.

Because — it’s my data, obviously. I can access it and do with it as I please.

Data jail sucks
Most service providers read data differently. If data was a dog they would lock it in their house and say we share it jointly. “You can play with it when you come to visit” — they would say.

As a consumer a I’m realising that I work with service providers that have locked our jointly owned dog in their house.

So here’s what I want
Dear Vodafone, dear Direct Line Insurance, dear Monster, dear HSBC, dear Southern Electric.

I want my API key.

I want apps to visualize the small print in my insurance policy and my mobile phone spend. I want to import CV data from Monster to Careerbuilder with a click. I want to be able to port my banking transaction history to whichever provider I choose next. I want MoneySuperMarket to monitor the deal I’m getting on electricity. I want to use my data for things I cannot even imagine yet.

I want to share my data with whoever I want, use it whenever I want and for whatever purpose I choose.

It’s my data. Give me my key.