In the vast digital landscape, achieving absolute safety is as elusive as it is in the midst of a bustling city or on a crowded road. Similar to the risks inherent in driving or walking alone at night, the internet’s dangers stem from societal choices. Just as the freedom of cars coexists with the risk of accidents and the pleasures of city life entail potential harm, an open internet allows for both freedom and the possibility of harm inflicted by others. While perfect safety online remains unattainable, there are parallels to the varying safety levels of highways and cities. Together, individuals can collectively strive to make their online experiences safer. As a media scholar immersed in the online realm, I’ve conducted self-experiments over decades, recognizing that privacy is not solely a product of personal choices and devices. This guide is an initiation into fostering a safer and healthier online life, emphasizing collaboration with those around you.
In the vast digital realm, the threats one encounters online are diverse and demand varied responses. The prevalent criminal threats, often highlighted in the news, involve hackers and scammers seeking to pilfer identities or money, exploiting global legal and cultural norms. Businesses and governments offer defense against such threats but may inadvertently pose risks of their own. Another peril arises from shadowy businesses exploiting lax online protections, gathering extensive user data to sell to advertisers and law enforcement without explicit consent. The third threat emanates from established institutions, including tech giants and government agencies, which promise safety while collecting user data for their benefit. The stakes are considerable, as scholars highlight the discriminatory impact of online surveillance, framing it as a “new Jim Code” that perpetuates injustice.
Navigating this landscape requires choices about trust, as shifting reliance from one entity to another impacts individual and collective safety. The absence of a safety formula underscores the importance of informed decisions.
PHASE 1: BASIC DATA PRIVACY HYGIENE
Embarking on the journey of digital privacy begins with individual actions. Employing a password manager and adopting unique, complex passwords enhances security. Two-factor authentication further fortifies defenses. Choosing privacy-focused browsers like Firefox or Brave, coupled with robust ad blockers, adds an extra layer of protection. Opting for search engines that don’t profile users, such as DuckDuckGo or Brave Search, aligns with privacy goals. On mobile devices, mindful app selection, periodic resets, and tools like F-Droid contribute to safeguarding personal data.
PHASE 2: SHIFTING AWAY
The second phase involves a strategic shift of trust away from surveillance-dependent companies, preferably with community involvement. Transitioning to email providers like Proton Mail, which avoids reliance on targeted ads, and adopting encrypted messaging platforms like Signal can contribute to building a more secure digital ecosystem. Community-wide adoption enhances the effectiveness of this transition, emphasizing the interconnected nature of online trust.
PHASE 3: NEW FOUNDATIONS
Taking your commitment to privacy even further involves considering privacy-preserving operating systems for your devices. Platforms like GrapheneOS and /e/OS offer versions of Android that avoid transmitting your phone’s data to Google. For computers, Pop!_OS, a user-friendly Linux variant, provides an alternative. Explore more ideas for transitioning away from surveillance-dependent systems on science and technology scholar Janet Vertesi’s Opt-Out Project website.
If you’re ready to delve deeper, consider reshaping how your community or workplace collaborates. In my university lab, we operate our own servers using tools like Nextcloud for file-sharing and Matrix for chat. This transformative shift necessitates a collective commitment to redirecting technology spending away from major corporations, emphasizing investment in managing your tools. Building what I term “governable stacks” — tools collectively managed and controlled by people — requires additional effort but yields a more satisfying and empowering relationship with technology.
PROTECTING EACH OTHER
Contrary to the notion that online safety is solely an individual responsibility, it’s crucial to recognize that the most significant source of danger online lies in the absence of robust public policies and collective power to challenge the pervasive surveillance business model. Shifting the narrative from individual blame to collective action is paramount. Cryptoparties and similar initiatives provide spaces for people to come together, share knowledge, and learn to use privacy tools. Supporting organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, dedicated to advocating for privacy-protecting public policies, is another impactful way to contribute. Understanding that privacy is a shared responsibility is key; only through collective efforts can we effectively confront the challenges posed by pervasive online surveillance.