#privacywashing — Public Fediverse posts

#introduction

We Build Networks is for a more convivial future on the Internet.

We are based in Tucson, AZ. We run colocated network resources, share them, and teach people things on them.

We do not, and will never, accept donations from Alphabet/Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, X/Twitter, or any individual or organization with a history of privacy or other human rights abuses.

Every organization claiming to stand for #privacy should make the same commitment. #privacywashing

#introduction

We Build Networks is for a more convivial future on the Internet.

We are based in Tucson, AZ. We run colocated network resources, share them, and teach people things on them.

We do not, and will never, accept donations from Alphabet/Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, X/Twitter, or any individual or organization with a history of privacy or other human rights abuses.

Every organization claiming to stand for #privacy should make the same commitment. #privacywashing

For #ageverification to truly be #privacy preserving, it shouldn't only ensure that services can't get any unnecessary data. It should also ensure that the state (including govt departments private companies acting on behalf of the state) can't get any unnecessary data, such as information about which sites you verify with. The latter, privacy towards the state, doesn't seem to be taken into account in the #eudiwallet design, as far as I can tell.

#EUDI #eidas #privacywashing

For #ageverification to truly be #privacy preserving, it shouldn't only ensure that services can't get any unnecessary data. It should also ensure that the state (including govt departments private companies acting on behalf of the state) can't get any unnecessary data, such as information about which sites you verify with. The latter, privacy towards the state, doesn't seem to be taken into account in the #eudiwallet design, as far as I can tell.

#EUDI #eidas #privacywashing

For #ageverification to truly be #privacy preserving, it shouldn't only ensure that services can't get any unnecessary data. It should also ensure that the state (including govt departments private companies acting on behalf of the state) can't get any unnecessary data, such as information about which sites you verify with. The latter, privacy towards the state, doesn't seem to be taken into account in the #eudiwallet design, as far as I can tell.

#EUDI #eidas #privacywashing

For #ageverification to truly be #privacy preserving, it shouldn't only ensure that services can't get any unnecessary data. It should also ensure that the state (including govt departments private companies acting on behalf of the state) can't get any unnecessary data, such as information about which sites you verify with. The latter, privacy towards the state, doesn't seem to be taken into account in the #eudiwallet design, as far as I can tell.

#EUDI #eidas #privacywashing

For #ageverification to truly be #privacy preserving, it shouldn't only ensure that services can't get any unnecessary data. It should also ensure that the state (including govt departments private companies acting on behalf of the state) can't get any unnecessary data, such as information about which sites you verify with. The latter, privacy towards the state, doesn't seem to be taken into account in the #eudiwallet design, as far as I can tell.

#EUDI #eidas #privacywashing

Ich muss einmal etwas positiv erwähnen – gerade da ich das oft andersherum erlebe, also entweder Seiten, denen #Datenschutz völlig egal sind und die mit unseren personenbezogenen Daten maximalen Profit als primäres Businessmodell als oberstes Maxime machen oder solche, die #PrivacyWashing betreiben

https://www.justboys.at/ beschreibt sich als "safe by design" und da war ich erst skeptisch. Und ja, es ist nicht alles perfekt, aber nahezu. Was mich besonders beeindruckt hat,

1/

#privacy #DSGVO

Ich muss einmal etwas positiv erwähnen – gerade da ich das oft andersherum erlebe, also entweder Seiten, denen #Datenschutz völlig egal sind und die mit unseren personenbezogenen Daten maximalen Profit als primäres Businessmodell als oberstes Maxime machen oder solche, die #PrivacyWashing betreiben

https://www.justboys.at/ beschreibt sich als "safe by design" und da war ich erst skeptisch. Und ja, es ist nicht alles perfekt, aber nahezu. Was mich besonders beeindruckt hat,

1/

#privacy #DSGVO

Ich muss einmal etwas positiv erwähnen – gerade da ich das oft andersherum erlebe, also entweder Seiten, denen #Datenschutz völlig egal sind und die mit unseren personenbezogenen Daten maximalen Profit als primäres Businessmodell als oberstes Maxime machen oder solche, die #PrivacyWashing betreiben

https://www.justboys.at/ beschreibt sich als "safe by design" und da war ich erst skeptisch. Und ja, es ist nicht alles perfekt, aber nahezu. Was mich besonders beeindruckt hat,

1/

#privacy #DSGVO

Ich muss einmal etwas positiv erwähnen – gerade da ich das oft andersherum erlebe, also entweder Seiten, denen #Datenschutz völlig egal sind und die mit unseren personenbezogenen Daten maximalen Profit als primäres Businessmodell als oberstes Maxime machen oder solche, die #PrivacyWashing betreiben

https://www.justboys.at/ beschreibt sich als "safe by design" und da war ich erst skeptisch. Und ja, es ist nicht alles perfekt, aber nahezu. Was mich besonders beeindruckt hat,

1/

#privacy #DSGVO

Ich muss einmal etwas positiv erwähnen – gerade da ich das oft andersherum erlebe, also entweder Seiten, denen #Datenschutz völlig egal sind und die mit unseren personenbezogenen Daten maximalen Profit als primäres Businessmodell als oberstes Maxime machen oder solche, die #PrivacyWashing betreiben

https://www.justboys.at/ beschreibt sich als "safe by design" und da war ich erst skeptisch. Und ja, es ist nicht alles perfekt, aber nahezu. Was mich besonders beeindruckt hat,

1/

#privacy #DSGVO

“My fear is that W Social is just another for-profit Big Tech startup that happens to be based in the EU. We don’t need that. We don’t need more European surveillance capitalists and people farmers. We need ethical alternatives working for the common good.”

– Yours truly, in @_elena’s excellent exposé on W Social.

https://blog.elenarossini.com/w-social-public-institutions-and-the-theater-of-european-digital-sovereignty/

Do read the article to the end, especially noting the bit about the composition of their board of advisors, which includes an ex-Google AI lead and an ex-Paypal Chief [Violate Your] Privacy Officer who now works at Tools for Humanity (Sam Altman’s “Sci-fi dystopia? Hold my beer…” identity farming startup that wants to scan your eyeballs).

#WSocial #EuropeWashing #PrivacyWashing #BigTech #peopleFarming #surveillance #capitalism #EU #ATProto #fediverse

“My fear is that W Social is just another for-profit Big Tech startup that happens to be based in the EU. We don’t need that. We don’t need more European surveillance capitalists and people farmers. We need ethical alternatives working for the common good.”

– Yours truly, in @_elena’s excellent exposé on W Social.

https://blog.elenarossini.com/w-social-public-institutions-and-the-theater-of-european-digital-sovereignty/

Do read the article to the end, especially noting the bit about the composition of their board of advisors, which includes an ex-Google AI lead and an ex-Paypal Chief [Violate Your] Privacy Officer who now works at Tools for Humanity (Sam Altman’s “Sci-fi dystopia? Hold my beer…” identity farming startup that wants to scan your eyeballs).

#WSocial #EuropeWashing #PrivacyWashing #BigTech #peopleFarming #surveillance #capitalism #EU #ATProto #fediverse

“My fear is that W Social is just another for-profit Big Tech startup that happens to be based in the EU. We don’t need that. We don’t need more European surveillance capitalists and people farmers. We need ethical alternatives working for the common good.”

– Yours truly, in @_elena’s excellent exposé on W Social.

https://blog.elenarossini.com/w-social-public-institutions-and-the-theater-of-european-digital-sovereignty/

Do read the article to the end, especially noting the bit about the composition of their board of advisors, which includes an ex-Google AI lead and an ex-Paypal Chief [Violate Your] Privacy Officer who now works at Tools for Humanity (Sam Altman’s “Sci-fi dystopia? Hold my beer…” identity farming startup that wants to scan your eyeballs).

#WSocial #EuropeWashing #PrivacyWashing #BigTech #peopleFarming #surveillance #capitalism #EU #ATProto #fediverse

“My fear is that W Social is just another for-profit Big Tech startup that happens to be based in the EU. We don’t need that. We don’t need more European surveillance capitalists and people farmers. We need ethical alternatives working for the common good.”

– Yours truly, in @_elena’s excellent exposé on W Social.

https://blog.elenarossini.com/w-social-public-institutions-and-the-theater-of-european-digital-sovereignty/

Do read the article to the end, especially noting the bit about the composition of their board of advisors, which includes an ex-Google AI lead and an ex-Paypal Chief [Violate Your] Privacy Officer who now works at Tools for Humanity (Sam Altman’s “Sci-fi dystopia? Hold my beer…” identity farming startup that wants to scan your eyeballs).

#WSocial #EuropeWashing #PrivacyWashing #BigTech #peopleFarming #surveillance #capitalism #EU #ATProto #fediverse

“My fear is that W Social is just another for-profit Big Tech startup that happens to be based in the EU. We don’t need that. We don’t need more European surveillance capitalists and people farmers. We need ethical alternatives working for the common good.”

– Yours truly, in @_elena’s excellent exposé on W Social.

https://blog.elenarossini.com/w-social-public-institutions-and-the-theater-of-european-digital-sovereignty/

Do read the article to the end, especially noting the bit about the composition of their board of advisors, which includes an ex-Google AI lead and an ex-Paypal Chief [Violate Your] Privacy Officer who now works at Tools for Humanity (Sam Altman’s “Sci-fi dystopia? Hold my beer…” identity farming startup that wants to scan your eyeballs).

#WSocial #EuropeWashing #PrivacyWashing #BigTech #peopleFarming #surveillance #capitalism #EU #ATProto #fediverse

Surprise: @protonprivacy wants us to add tracking links to our website. That is an odd suggestion coming from a “privacy” company. Should we take their bribe?

We get a lot of weird suggestions by e-mail but only one company (#nordvpn) tried to bribe us before: https://fedifreu.de/@switchingsoftware/114223190053914164

#proton #protonmail #protontracking #tracking #affiliateMarketing #pricacy #privacywashing

Surprise: @protonprivacy wants us to add tracking links to our website. That is an odd suggestion coming from a “privacy” company. Should we take their bribe?

We get a lot of weird suggestions by e-mail but only one company (#nordvpn) tried to bribe us before: https://fedifreu.de/@switchingsoftware/114223190053914164

#proton #protonmail #protontracking #tracking #affiliateMarketing #pricacy #privacywashing

Surprise: @protonprivacy wants us to add tracking links to our website. That is an odd suggestion coming from a “privacy” company. Should we take their bribe?

We get a lot of weird suggestions by e-mail but only one company (#nordvpn) tried to bribe us before: https://fedifreu.de/@switchingsoftware/114223190053914164

#proton #protonmail #protontracking #tracking #affiliateMarketing #pricacy #privacywashing

Surprise: @protonprivacy wants us to add tracking links to our website. That is an odd suggestion coming from a “privacy” company. Should we take their bribe?

We get a lot of weird suggestions by e-mail but only one company (#nordvpn) tried to bribe us before: https://fedifreu.de/@switchingsoftware/114223190053914164

#proton #protonmail #protontracking #tracking #affiliateMarketing #pricacy #privacywashing

Surprise: @protonprivacy wants us to add tracking links to our website. That is an odd suggestion coming from a “privacy” company. Should we take their bribe?

We get a lot of weird suggestions by e-mail but only one company (#nordvpn) tried to bribe us before: https://fedifreu.de/@switchingsoftware/114223190053914164

#proton #protonmail #protontracking #tracking #affiliateMarketing #pricacy #privacywashing

When you hear that someone is a “privacy professional”, you know two things about them:

1. That they work in the field of privacy
2. That someone pays them to do that

So ask:

Who is paying you?

(Always follow the money.)

Based on the answer, you’ll know whether their job is to protect your privacy or to find ways of legitimising their employer’s business model that’s predicated on violating your privacy.

Also, ask yourself: who has the most money?

Then you’ll know who can afford to hire the largest number of “privacy professionals.” Hint: trillion-dollar corporations are called trillion-dollar corporations for a reason.

(Wait a minute, am I really saying that most “privacy professionals” are hired to help corporations violate your privacy, not protect it? That’s a yes.)

Finally, have a little read up on “revolving doors” to understand that for some of these “privacy professionals”, a job is just a job and they will happily flip between the two because, really, it’s all just a game to some people when you have a certain level of privilege.

I was once censured by the Nordic Privacy Arena – a conference that “aims to be part of the privacy professional’s journey” where I was presenting a keynote – for criticising the keynote by a Facebook employee (a lawyer who was a “privacy professional”). What was that Facebook employee’s previous job, you ask? Oh, he worked at the French data protection office (CNIL). And that, kids, is what we call a revolving door.

(Last year, Nordic Privacy Arena had four speakers from Google as well as a speaker from Capgemini – whose US subsidiary has a contract to provide surveillance and tracking services to ICE* – and Salesforce**. Not to mention a representative from the Irish Data Protection Commission. You know, the folks who enforce GDPR to the extent that they’re sued by @noybeu to do so. If you don’t know how corrupt Ireland is on this, read the excerpt from the Facebook whistleblower’s book, Careless People, that I quote in this post: https://ar.al/2025/03/21/careless-people/)

And none of this is going to change if we continue with the framing of “data protection”. We must make this whole business model illegal.

We must go beyond GDPR to GDMR: General Data Minimisation Regulation.

https://ar.al/2018/11/29/gdmr-this-one-simple-regulation-could-end-surveillance-capitalism-in-the-eu/

* https://www.surveillancewatch.io/entities/capgemini
** https://dpforum.se/nordic-privacy-arena/nordic-privacy-arena-2026/

#CPDP2026 #CPDP #NordicPrivacyArena #dataProtection #privacyWashing #institutionalCorruption #revolvingDoors #usefulIdiots #privacy #humanRights #GDPR #GDMR

When you hear that someone is a “privacy professional”, you know two things about them:

1. That they work in the field of privacy
2. That someone pays them to do that

So ask:

Who is paying you?

(Always follow the money.)

Based on the answer, you’ll know whether their job is to protect your privacy or to find ways of legitimising their employer’s business model that’s predicated on violating your privacy.

Also, ask yourself: who has the most money?

Then you’ll know who can afford to hire the largest number of “privacy professionals.” Hint: trillion-dollar corporations are called trillion-dollar corporations for a reason.

(Wait a minute, am I really saying that most “privacy professionals” are hired to help corporations violate your privacy, not protect it? That’s a yes.)

Finally, have a little read up on “revolving doors” to understand that for some of these “privacy professionals”, a job is just a job and they will happily flip between the two because, really, it’s all just a game to some people when you have a certain level of privilege.

I was once censured by the Nordic Privacy Arena – a conference that “aims to be part of the privacy professional’s journey” where I was presenting a keynote – for criticising the keynote by a Facebook employee (a lawyer who was a “privacy professional”). What was that Facebook employee’s previous job, you ask? Oh, he worked at the French data protection office (CNIL). And that, kids, is what we call a revolving door.

(Last year, Nordic Privacy Arena had four speakers from Google as well as a speaker from Capgemini – whose US subsidiary has a contract to provide surveillance and tracking services to ICE* – and Salesforce**. Not to mention a representative from the Irish Data Protection Commission. You know, the folks who enforce GDPR to the extent that they’re sued by @noybeu to do so. If you don’t know how corrupt Ireland is on this, read the excerpt from the Facebook whistleblower’s book, Careless People, that I quote in this post: https://ar.al/2025/03/21/careless-people/)

And none of this is going to change if we continue with the framing of “data protection”. We must make this whole business model illegal.

We must go beyond GDPR to GDMR: General Data Minimisation Regulation.

https://ar.al/2018/11/29/gdmr-this-one-simple-regulation-could-end-surveillance-capitalism-in-the-eu/

* https://www.surveillancewatch.io/entities/capgemini
** https://dpforum.se/nordic-privacy-arena/nordic-privacy-arena-2026/

#CPDP2026 #CPDP #NordicPrivacyArena #dataProtection #privacyWashing #institutionalCorruption #revolvingDoors #usefulIdiots #privacy #humanRights #GDPR #GDMR

When you hear that someone is a “privacy professional”, you know two things about them:

1. That they work in the field of privacy
2. That someone pays them to do that

So ask:

Who is paying you?

(Always follow the money.)

Based on the answer, you’ll know whether their job is to protect your privacy or to find ways of legitimising their employer’s business model that’s predicated on violating your privacy.

Also, ask yourself: who has the most money?

Then you’ll know who can afford to hire the largest number of “privacy professionals.” Hint: trillion-dollar corporations are called trillion-dollar corporations for a reason.

(Wait a minute, am I really saying that most “privacy professionals” are hired to help corporations violate your privacy, not protect it? That’s a yes.)

Finally, have a little read up on “revolving doors” to understand that for some of these “privacy professionals”, a job is just a job and they will happily flip between the two because, really, it’s all just a game to some people when you have a certain level of privilege.

I was once censured by the Nordic Privacy Arena – a conference that “aims to be part of the privacy professional’s journey” where I was presenting a keynote – for criticising the keynote by a Facebook employee (a lawyer who was a “privacy professional”). What was that Facebook employee’s previous job, you ask? Oh, he worked at the French data protection office (CNIL). And that, kids, is what we call a revolving door.

(Last year, Nordic Privacy Arena had four speakers from Google as well as a speaker from Capgemini – whose US subsidiary has a contract to provide surveillance and tracking services to ICE* – and Salesforce**. Not to mention a representative from the Irish Data Protection Commission. You know, the folks who enforce GDPR to the extent that they’re sued by @noybeu to do so. If you don’t know how corrupt Ireland is on this, read the excerpt from the Facebook whistleblower’s book, Careless People, that I quote in this post: https://ar.al/2025/03/21/careless-people/)

And none of this is going to change if we continue with the framing of “data protection”. We must make this whole business model illegal.

We must go beyond GDPR to GDMR: General Data Minimisation Regulation.

https://ar.al/2018/11/29/gdmr-this-one-simple-regulation-could-end-surveillance-capitalism-in-the-eu/

* https://www.surveillancewatch.io/entities/capgemini
** https://dpforum.se/nordic-privacy-arena/nordic-privacy-arena-2026/

#CPDP2026 #CPDP #NordicPrivacyArena #dataProtection #privacyWashing #institutionalCorruption #revolvingDoors #usefulIdiots #privacy #humanRights #GDPR #GDMR

When you hear that someone is a “privacy professional”, you know two things about them:

1. That they work in the field of privacy
2. That someone pays them to do that

So ask:

Who is paying you?

(Always follow the money.)

Based on the answer, you’ll know whether their job is to protect your privacy or to find ways of legitimising their employer’s business model that’s predicated on violating your privacy.

Also, ask yourself: who has the most money?

Then you’ll know who can afford to hire the largest number of “privacy professionals.” Hint: trillion-dollar corporations are called trillion-dollar corporations for a reason.

(Wait a minute, am I really saying that most “privacy professionals” are hired to help corporations violate your privacy, not protect it? That’s a yes.)

Finally, have a little read up on “revolving doors” to understand that for some of these “privacy professionals”, a job is just a job and they will happily flip between the two because, really, it’s all just a game to some people when you have a certain level of privilege.

I was once censured by the Nordic Privacy Arena – a conference that “aims to be part of the privacy professional’s journey” where I was presenting a keynote – for criticising the keynote by a Facebook employee (a lawyer who was a “privacy professional”). What was that Facebook employee’s previous job, you ask? Oh, he worked at the French data protection office (CNIL). And that, kids, is what we call a revolving door.

(Last year, Nordic Privacy Arena had four speakers from Google as well as a speaker from Capgemini – whose US subsidiary has a contract to provide surveillance and tracking services to ICE* – and Salesforce**. Not to mention a representative from the Irish Data Protection Commission. You know, the folks who enforce GDPR to the extent that they’re sued by @noybeu to do so. If you don’t know how corrupt Ireland is on this, read the excerpt from the Facebook whistleblower’s book, Careless People, that I quote in this post: https://ar.al/2025/03/21/careless-people/)

And none of this is going to change if we continue with the framing of “data protection”. We must make this whole business model illegal.

We must go beyond GDPR to GDMR: General Data Minimisation Regulation.

https://ar.al/2018/11/29/gdmr-this-one-simple-regulation-could-end-surveillance-capitalism-in-the-eu/

* https://www.surveillancewatch.io/entities/capgemini
** https://dpforum.se/nordic-privacy-arena/nordic-privacy-arena-2026/

#CPDP2026 #CPDP #NordicPrivacyArena #dataProtection #privacyWashing #institutionalCorruption #revolvingDoors #usefulIdiots #privacy #humanRights #GDPR #GDMR

When you hear that someone is a “privacy professional”, you know two things about them:

1. That they work in the field of privacy
2. That someone pays them to do that

So ask:

Who is paying you?

(Always follow the money.)

Based on the answer, you’ll know whether their job is to protect your privacy or to find ways of legitimising their employer’s business model that’s predicated on violating your privacy.

Also, ask yourself: who has the most money?

Then you’ll know who can afford to hire the largest number of “privacy professionals.” Hint: trillion-dollar corporations are called trillion-dollar corporations for a reason.

(Wait a minute, am I really saying that most “privacy professionals” are hired to help corporations violate your privacy, not protect it? That’s a yes.)

Finally, have a little read up on “revolving doors” to understand that for some of these “privacy professionals”, a job is just a job and they will happily flip between the two because, really, it’s all just a game to some people when you have a certain level of privilege.

I was once censured by the Nordic Privacy Arena – a conference that “aims to be part of the privacy professional’s journey” where I was presenting a keynote – for criticising the keynote by a Facebook employee (a lawyer who was a “privacy professional”). What was that Facebook employee’s previous job, you ask? Oh, he worked at the French data protection office (CNIL). And that, kids, is what we call a revolving door.

(Last year, Nordic Privacy Arena had four speakers from Google as well as a speaker from Capgemini – whose US subsidiary has a contract to provide surveillance and tracking services to ICE* – and Salesforce**. Not to mention a representative from the Irish Data Protection Commission. You know, the folks who enforce GDPR to the extent that they’re sued by @noybeu to do so. If you don’t know how corrupt Ireland is on this, read the excerpt from the Facebook whistleblower’s book, Careless People, that I quote in this post: https://ar.al/2025/03/21/careless-people/)

And none of this is going to change if we continue with the framing of “data protection”. We must make this whole business model illegal.

We must go beyond GDPR to GDMR: General Data Minimisation Regulation.

https://ar.al/2018/11/29/gdmr-this-one-simple-regulation-could-end-surveillance-capitalism-in-the-eu/

* https://www.surveillancewatch.io/entities/capgemini
** https://dpforum.se/nordic-privacy-arena/nordic-privacy-arena-2026/

#CPDP2026 #CPDP #NordicPrivacyArena #dataProtection #privacyWashing #institutionalCorruption #revolvingDoors #usefulIdiots #privacy #humanRights #GDPR #GDMR

Photo of “privacy professionals” having fun at #CPDP2026 sponsored by Google, Microsoft, and TikTok.

This is why you’re fucked.

#CPDP2026 #CPDP #privacyWashing #institutionalCorruption #usefulIdiots #privacy #humanRights #GDPR

Photo of “privacy professionals” having fun at #CPDP2026 sponsored by Google, Microsoft, and TikTok.

This is why you’re fucked.

#CPDP2026 #CPDP #privacyWashing #institutionalCorruption #usefulIdiots #privacy #humanRights #GDPR

Photo of “privacy professionals” having fun at #CPDP2026 sponsored by Google, Microsoft, and TikTok.

This is why you’re fucked.

#CPDP2026 #CPDP #privacyWashing #institutionalCorruption #usefulIdiots #privacy #humanRights #GDPR

Photo of “privacy professionals” having fun at #CPDP2026 sponsored by Google, Microsoft, and TikTok.

This is why you’re fucked.

#CPDP2026 #CPDP #privacyWashing #institutionalCorruption #usefulIdiots #privacy #humanRights #GDPR

Photo of “privacy professionals” having fun at #CPDP2026 sponsored by Google, Microsoft, and TikTok.

This is why you’re fucked.

#CPDP2026 #CPDP #privacyWashing #institutionalCorruption #usefulIdiots #privacy #humanRights #GDPR

RE: https://eupolicy.social/@ilumium/116605748081603331

Big Tech loves to sponsor so-called “human rights” and “privacy and data protection” conferences for the same reason Big Tobacco loves to sponsor healthcare conferences.

As you can see, the European Conference on Tobacco or Health, for example, is sponsored by Philip Morris, British American Tobacco, and Altria Group*, just like #CPDP2026 is sponsored by Google, Microsoft, and TikTok**.

Oh wait, they’re not.

Because, unlike CPDP, they’re not a bunch of hypocrites and useful idiots working to legitimise the worst surveillance capitalists and people farmers – not to mention, these days, corporations complicit in literal genocide – for profit.

I wrote this ten years ago:

https://ar.al/notes/why-im-not-speaking-at-cpdp/

Nothing has changed. And nothing will change as long as people with legitimacy continue to normalise these scams by attending, promoting, and speaking at them.

* https://www.ectoh.org/sponsor/
** https://www.cpdpconferences.org/#sponsors

#CPDP #CPDP2026 #privacyWashing

RE: https://eupolicy.social/@ilumium/116605748081603331

Big Tech loves to sponsor so-called “human rights” and “privacy and data protection” conferences for the same reason Big Tobacco loves to sponsor healthcare conferences.

As you can see, the European Conference on Tobacco or Health, for example, is sponsored by Philip Morris, British American Tobacco, and Altria Group*, just like #CPDP2026 is sponsored by Google, Microsoft, and TikTok**.

Oh wait, they’re not.

Because, unlike CPDP, they’re not a bunch of hypocrites and useful idiots working to legitimise the worst surveillance capitalists and people farmers – not to mention, these days, corporations complicit in literal genocide – for profit.

I wrote this ten years ago:

https://ar.al/notes/why-im-not-speaking-at-cpdp/

Nothing has changed. And nothing will change as long as people with legitimacy continue to normalise these scams by attending, promoting, and speaking at them.

* https://www.ectoh.org/sponsor/
** https://www.cpdpconferences.org/#sponsors

#CPDP #CPDP2026 #privacyWashing

RE: https://eupolicy.social/@ilumium/116605748081603331

Big Tech loves to sponsor so-called “human rights” and “privacy and data protection” conferences for the same reason Big Tobacco loves to sponsor healthcare conferences.

As you can see, the European Conference on Tobacco or Health, for example, is sponsored by Philip Morris, British American Tobacco, and Altria Group*, just like #CPDP2026 is sponsored by Google, Microsoft, and TikTok**.

Oh wait, they’re not.

Because, unlike CPDP, they’re not a bunch of hypocrites and useful idiots working to legitimise the worst surveillance capitalists and people farmers – not to mention, these days, corporations complicit in literal genocide – for profit.

I wrote this ten years ago:

https://ar.al/notes/why-im-not-speaking-at-cpdp/

Nothing has changed. And nothing will change as long as people with legitimacy continue to normalise these scams by attending, promoting, and speaking at them.

* https://www.ectoh.org/sponsor/
** https://www.cpdpconferences.org/#sponsors

#CPDP #CPDP2026 #privacyWashing

RE: https://eupolicy.social/@ilumium/116605748081603331

Big Tech loves to sponsor so-called “human rights” and “privacy and data protection” conferences for the same reason Big Tobacco loves to sponsor healthcare conferences.

As you can see, the European Conference on Tobacco or Health, for example, is sponsored by Philip Morris, British American Tobacco, and Altria Group*, just like #CPDP2026 is sponsored by Google, Microsoft, and TikTok**.

Oh wait, they’re not.

Because, unlike CPDP, they’re not a bunch of hypocrites and useful idiots working to legitimise the worst surveillance capitalists and people farmers – not to mention, these days, corporations complicit in literal genocide – for profit.

I wrote this ten years ago:

https://ar.al/notes/why-im-not-speaking-at-cpdp/

Nothing has changed. And nothing will change as long as people with legitimacy continue to normalise these scams by attending, promoting, and speaking at them.

* https://www.ectoh.org/sponsor/
** https://www.cpdpconferences.org/#sponsors

#CPDP #CPDP2026 #privacyWashing

RE: https://eupolicy.social/@ilumium/116605748081603331

Big Tech loves to sponsor so-called “human rights” and “privacy and data protection” conferences for the same reason Big Tobacco loves to sponsor healthcare conferences.

As you can see, the European Conference on Tobacco or Health, for example, is sponsored by Philip Morris, British American Tobacco, and Altria Group*, just like #CPDP2026 is sponsored by Google, Microsoft, and TikTok**.

Oh wait, they’re not.

Because, unlike CPDP, they’re not a bunch of hypocrites and useful idiots working to legitimise the worst surveillance capitalists and people farmers – not to mention, these days, corporations complicit in literal genocide – for profit.

I wrote this ten years ago:

https://ar.al/notes/why-im-not-speaking-at-cpdp/

Nothing has changed. And nothing will change as long as people with legitimacy continue to normalise these scams by attending, promoting, and speaking at them.

* https://www.ectoh.org/sponsor/
** https://www.cpdpconferences.org/#sponsors

#CPDP #CPDP2026 #privacyWashing

Perhaps you haven't heard the term privacy washing before.

Nonetheless, it's likely that you have already been exposed to this scheme in the wild. Regrettably, privacy washing is a widespread deceptive strategy.

The term has been used for over a decade already. It's saddening to see that not only is this not a new problem, but it has only gotten worse through the years.

https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/08/20/privacy-washing-is-a-dirty-business/

#Privacy #PrivacyWashing #DigitalRights

Perhaps you haven't heard the term privacy washing before.

Nonetheless, it's likely that you have already been exposed to this scheme in the wild. Regrettably, privacy washing is a widespread deceptive strategy.

The term has been used for over a decade already. It's saddening to see that not only is this not a new problem, but it has only gotten worse through the years.

https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/08/20/privacy-washing-is-a-dirty-business/

#Privacy #PrivacyWashing #DigitalRights

Perhaps you haven't heard the term privacy washing before.

Nonetheless, it's likely that you have already been exposed to this scheme in the wild. Regrettably, privacy washing is a widespread deceptive strategy.

The term has been used for over a decade already. It's saddening to see that not only is this not a new problem, but it has only gotten worse through the years.

https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/08/20/privacy-washing-is-a-dirty-business/

#Privacy #PrivacyWashing #DigitalRights

Perhaps you haven't heard the term privacy washing before.

Nonetheless, it's likely that you have already been exposed to this scheme in the wild. Regrettably, privacy washing is a widespread deceptive strategy.

The term has been used for over a decade already. It's saddening to see that not only is this not a new problem, but it has only gotten worse through the years.

https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/08/20/privacy-washing-is-a-dirty-business/

#Privacy #PrivacyWashing #DigitalRights

Perhaps you haven't heard the term privacy washing before.

Nonetheless, it's likely that you have already been exposed to this scheme in the wild. Regrettably, privacy washing is a widespread deceptive strategy.

The term has been used for over a decade already. It's saddening to see that not only is this not a new problem, but it has only gotten worse through the years.

https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/08/20/privacy-washing-is-a-dirty-business/

#Privacy #PrivacyWashing #DigitalRights

RE: https://mastodon.social/@404mediaco/116403536497971801

With this 404 Media news today about
webXray's audit finding that Google, Microsoft, and Meta, unsurprisingly (but still disappointingly), are ignoring opt-out signals,

It seems like a good timing to post again about my article on Privacy Washing: https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/08/20/privacy-washing-is-a-dirty-business/

#Privacy #PrivacyWashing #DigitalRights

RE: https://mastodon.social/@404mediaco/116403536497971801

With this 404 Media news today about
webXray's audit finding that Google, Microsoft, and Meta, unsurprisingly (but still disappointingly), are ignoring opt-out signals,

It seems like a good timing to post again about my article on Privacy Washing: https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/08/20/privacy-washing-is-a-dirty-business/

#Privacy #PrivacyWashing #DigitalRights

RE: https://mastodon.social/@404mediaco/116403536497971801

With this 404 Media news today about
webXray's audit finding that Google, Microsoft, and Meta, unsurprisingly (but still disappointingly), are ignoring opt-out signals,

It seems like a good timing to post again about my article on Privacy Washing: https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/08/20/privacy-washing-is-a-dirty-business/

#Privacy #PrivacyWashing #DigitalRights

RE: https://mastodon.social/@404mediaco/116403536497971801

With this 404 Media news today about
webXray's audit finding that Google, Microsoft, and Meta, unsurprisingly (but still disappointingly), are ignoring opt-out signals,

It seems like a good timing to post again about my article on Privacy Washing: https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/08/20/privacy-washing-is-a-dirty-business/

#Privacy #PrivacyWashing #DigitalRights

RE: https://mastodon.social/@404mediaco/116403536497971801

With this 404 Media news today about
webXray's audit finding that Google, Microsoft, and Meta, unsurprisingly (but still disappointingly), are ignoring opt-out signals,

It seems like a good timing to post again about my article on Privacy Washing: https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/08/20/privacy-washing-is-a-dirty-business/

#Privacy #PrivacyWashing #DigitalRights

In your privacy advocacy, it's essential to use and recommend tools that are reliable to protect privacy. For this, you need to stay skeptical and investigate claims.

☠️ Learn more on how to evaluate privacy claims, and recommend tools that are trustworthy.

🧰 Check our Privacy Activist Toolbox tip to Beware of Privacy Snake Oil: https://www.privacyguides.org/en/activism/toolbox/tip-beware-of-privacy-snake-oil/

#PrivacyGuides #Activism #PrivacyActivistToolbox #Privacy #PrivacyWashing

In your privacy advocacy, it's essential to use and recommend tools that are reliable to protect privacy. For this, you need to stay skeptical and investigate claims.

☠️ Learn more on how to evaluate privacy claims, and recommend tools that are trustworthy.

🧰 Check our Privacy Activist Toolbox tip to Beware of Privacy Snake Oil: https://www.privacyguides.org/en/activism/toolbox/tip-beware-of-privacy-snake-oil/

#PrivacyGuides #Activism #PrivacyActivistToolbox #Privacy #PrivacyWashing

In your privacy advocacy, it's essential to use and recommend tools that are reliable to protect privacy. For this, you need to stay skeptical and investigate claims.

☠️ Learn more on how to evaluate privacy claims, and recommend tools that are trustworthy.

🧰 Check our Privacy Activist Toolbox tip to Beware of Privacy Snake Oil: https://www.privacyguides.org/en/activism/toolbox/tip-beware-of-privacy-snake-oil/

#PrivacyGuides #Activism #PrivacyActivistToolbox #Privacy #PrivacyWashing

In your privacy advocacy, it's essential to use and recommend tools that are reliable to protect privacy. For this, you need to stay skeptical and investigate claims.

☠️ Learn more on how to evaluate privacy claims, and recommend tools that are trustworthy.

🧰 Check our Privacy Activist Toolbox tip to Beware of Privacy Snake Oil: https://www.privacyguides.org/en/activism/toolbox/tip-beware-of-privacy-snake-oil/

#PrivacyGuides #Activism #PrivacyActivistToolbox #Privacy #PrivacyWashing

In your privacy advocacy, it's essential to use and recommend tools that are reliable to protect privacy. For this, you need to stay skeptical and investigate claims.

☠️ Learn more on how to evaluate privacy claims, and recommend tools that are trustworthy.

🧰 Check our Privacy Activist Toolbox tip to Beware of Privacy Snake Oil: https://www.privacyguides.org/en/activism/toolbox/tip-beware-of-privacy-snake-oil/

#PrivacyGuides #Activism #PrivacyActivistToolbox #Privacy #PrivacyWashing

@ligasser OK, I am not too familiar with iOS, but I guess directly opening an app from #poppy would be technically feasible.
And the idea of regularly checking in on «lost friends» is nice!
The point is that most people will do this via their existing connections (WA, Insta, FB, ...), so the (implicit) claim to «enhance» by not collecting data is #privacywashing
#social_media #messenger

@ligasser OK, I am not too familiar with iOS, but I guess directly opening an app from #poppy would be technically feasible.
And the idea of regularly checking in on «lost friends» is nice!
The point is that most people will do this via their existing connections (WA, Insta, FB, ...), so the (implicit) claim to «enhance» by not collecting data is #privacywashing
#social_media #messenger

@ligasser OK, I am not too familiar with iOS, but I guess directly opening an app from #poppy would be technically feasible.
And the idea of regularly checking in on «lost friends» is nice!
The point is that most people will do this via their existing connections (WA, Insta, FB, ...), so the (implicit) claim to «enhance» by not collecting data is #privacywashing
#social_media #messenger

@ligasser OK, I am not too familiar with iOS, but I guess directly opening an app from #poppy would be technically feasible.
And the idea of regularly checking in on «lost friends» is nice!
The point is that most people will do this via their existing connections (WA, Insta, FB, ...), so the (implicit) claim to «enhance» by not collecting data is #privacywashing
#social_media #messenger

@ligasser OK, I am not too familiar with iOS, but I guess directly opening an app from #poppy would be technically feasible.
And the idea of regularly checking in on «lost friends» is nice!
The point is that most people will do this via their existing connections (WA, Insta, FB, ...), so the (implicit) claim to «enhance» by not collecting data is #privacywashing
#social_media #messenger

@ligasser Description reads like a youth-focused social app:
“All data stored on your device” is good, but “No cloud, no servers, no sync” with staying in touch online?
Maybe simply a personal relationship tracker/reminder that hooks into your contacts and messaging apps to prompt contact on a schedule?

⚠️Thus claiming “Privacy isn't a feature — it's the foundation” feels like misleading #privacywashing?

👉 Needs to be verified in source, yet license forbids reverse-engineering/redistribution👀

@ligasser Description reads like a youth-focused social app:
“All data stored on your device” is good, but “No cloud, no servers, no sync” with staying in touch online?
Maybe simply a personal relationship tracker/reminder that hooks into your contacts and messaging apps to prompt contact on a schedule?

⚠️Thus claiming “Privacy isn't a feature — it's the foundation” feels like misleading #privacywashing?

👉 Needs to be verified in source, yet license forbids reverse-engineering/redistribution👀

@ligasser Description reads like a youth-focused social app:
“All data stored on your device” is good, but “No cloud, no servers, no sync” with staying in touch online?
Maybe simply a personal relationship tracker/reminder that hooks into your contacts and messaging apps to prompt contact on a schedule?

⚠️Thus claiming “Privacy isn't a feature — it's the foundation” feels like misleading #privacywashing?

👉 Needs to be verified in source, yet license forbids reverse-engineering/redistribution👀