Privacy

The business model for vast parts of the internet heavily depends on the largely unrestricted collection of user data and information. Users have little control over where their data goes, as it is bought and sold by companies that most users have never heard of and, as concerning, accessible by domestic and foreign governments. Numerous harmful outcomes stem from mining, combining, and analyzing this data to enable targeted advertising and automated decision-making that directly impact the lives of the public. Strong privacy laws are among the few solutions with broad support across civil society. However, many governments have failed to enact laws that adequately protect the public. Privacy in the digital age requires enacting policies that both give users more choice and control over how their personal information is used, and restrict business practices that seek to exploit data for purposes that are detrimental to the public good.