Denied access to healthcare, millions of people in developing countries turn to the informal sector for primary health care. But this system is often inefficient and poorly managed. A startup called Springs Health wants to change that. It’s using blockchain technology and a social network of patients and providers to create a system where residents can find treatment from qualified doctors, receive regular checkups and medications, and manage their care records in a secure fashion.
Some of the startups that I am most terrified of are ones that could have a massive impact on our world. Some examples include companies that develop new medical treatments or technologies, those that create new sources of energy, or those
TikTok, the popular app and site where people post short videos of themselves, is facing bans in countries across the world because data collected on the app may end up in the hands of Chinese authorities. Though ByteDance insists that data is never shared with Chinese authorities, concerns have arisen that it could be used to censor users or track personal activities. In response to these bans, TikTok has vowed to encrypt all user data stored on its servers.
The fact that so many American apps and companies share our information with advertisers and data brokers means that our data is accessible to the Chinese government and its ubiquitous surveillance apparatus. Moreover, there is no effective oversight or regulation to protect our data from being shared or sold to anyone who wants it, regardless of nationality. In the age of big data and algorithmic accountability, we need stronger protections for our personal information if we want to avoid being exploited by those who do not have our best interests at heart.
Although lawmakers and the government endlessly fixate about TikTok and China, they continue to neglect the problem of domestic terrorism. The scary calls are coming from inside America’s house.
Looking at how money has influenced the rise of these tech giants, it’s clear that capital is key. In order to become a success, Amazons, Ubers, Facebooks and Googles had to innovate and disrupt their respective industries. They did this through their data and technological advances. By providing users with convenient services at low prices, they became some of the world’s wealthiest companies. Still, not all of these technology titans have been successful in terms of community impact. Facebook continues to face scrutiny over its role in disseminating fake news and hate speech online while Uber has been accused of sexual assault and other unethical practices
As the digital world has evolved, so too have the ways in which companies are using and abusing data. Amazon is notorious for its ruthless market practices and relentless pushes to consolidate power, while Uber used its data to inappropriately advantage itself in competition. Facebook was found to be responsible for inciting genocide through its user targeting tools and also attempted to cover up a massive data breach. Google, meanwhile, continues to face antitrust scrutiny over its track record of questionable practices with regards to data collection and use. It’s clear that we need stronger regulation on these companies if we want any hope of seeing a digital world that’s not completely dominated by massive corporations with deep pockets eager to exploit our information at every turn.
The data-hungry tech companies have compromised our security, eroded our privacy, tracked us, sold our data, lost our data, monopolized the competition, driven out small businesses and put entire populations at risk. They need to be held accountable for their actions and the damage they have done to society.
It’s no wonder that tech companies keep getting richer. There are few rules for what companies can do with our information, but plenty of profit-making playbooks to work from. Every day a new tranche of startups have our data in their sights, but as consumers facing today’s technology, what hope do we have when the conditions for our security and privacy are worse? Despite the paucity of legislation and regulation that have allowed these companies to thrive and grow rich off of our personal information and data, there is some hope on the horizon. With consumer activism on the rise, pressure is being put on these tech giants to change their practices; if they don’t listen now they may eventually be forced to by government action or lawsuits. In the meantime, we must be protective of our data and ensure that we understand exactly how different technologies harvest it from us in order to create targeted advertising campaigns. If we’re savvy about iting smartly protect ourselves online–including using two-factor authentication whenever possible–we can somewhat safeguard ourselves against harm done by Big Tech
A national TikTok ban would likely have a minimal impact on Americans’ data ending up in China, as the data has to be stemmed at the source – by not allowing American tech companies to collect gobs of data from people’s devices to begin with. In addition, efforts such as GDPR and other privacy regulations could also help protect individuals’ data from being inappropriately accessed or collected by companies.
Creating a federal privacy law that spans the entire country and getting it to actually work isn’t easy. It’s why each state legislates differently, leaving Americans’ data unprotected at the hands of companies and governments who want it. America is one of the few superpowers without a data protection or privacy law, and this uncontrolled environment allows China or anyone else who will pay for it access to Americans’ data. This leaves us vulnerable to breaches, identity theft, and other forms of cybercrime. Congress needs to take action now and pass a national privacy law that protects all American citizens from these threats
To many people, California is synonymous with privacy. The state was the first to offer strong consumer and data protections to its residents, granting Californians the rights to access, modify and delete the data that companies collect on them. Despite this unequivocal stance in favor of privacy, millions of Americans continue to lack any protection at all from their data collectors. Silicon Valley may be a stronghold for technological innovation, but it’s not immune from policy debates surrounding personal privacy.
In a bid to create a weaker set of rules across the U.S., the tech lobby is supporting a federal law with the aim of creating a one-size-fits-all platform for businesses and consumers alike. However, many lawmakers in California believe that this bill would lead to even more corporate control over our data, making it easier for companies like Facebook and Google to track our movements and sell our data without our consent.
In the current environment where startups are able to do almost anything with our information and face little to no repercussions, it is important that we be vigilant about what information we share and how it is used. In particular, it is important to take precautions when signing up for new services or submitting information online. We should also use caution when giving out personal information online, especially if we do not know the company or person responsible for collecting that data. We should also be aware of potential hacks and privacy breaches, which can have serious consequences for our identities and personal safety.
The startups of today and tomorrow are doomed to make the same mistakes of yesteryear if they do not have guardrails in place to protect their data. Guardrails prevent data breaches, identity theft, and other such scandals from happening, and without them the future of startups is at risk. If we want these businesses to be successful, we must make sure that their data is safe from harm.
