I’m talking chat control, age verification rolling out on most major apps, and all such recent incoming developments for popular apps that might take root before users can properly prepare.
I still use (though to a lesser degree) a number of popular privacy-invasive platforms due to things like vendor lock-in, insufficient knowledge of information export needs and implications, and simple privacy fatigue.
So, I’d like these general to-dos to gear towards people who are in the same boat as me: people who haven’t left these platforms yet.
I’m under the impression that this community hates one-size-fits all advice, and I understand this might hit that nerve. That said, I think that a well-considered general ‘apocalypse checklist’ will still be a far better place to start than facing the corps’ onslaught blind.
Take this with a grain of salt as I haven’t researched it much, but I’ve heard Apple and Google developed slightly more private forms of age verification, so I guess you could try to stick to that if possible? I’m not sure if you’d really have a choice though, it may be up to the service. Unfortunately the only effective advice is to avoid privacy-invasive platforms as best you can. If you can’t switch completely, at least join them and be an active user.
One of the main reasons private alternatives aren’t growing is because it’s fighting the uphill battle of the networking effect, which requires enthusiastic users to help overcome by growing said platforms.
Use a reputable VPN, harden your browser and change the settings such that you’re less fingerprintable in every session of your browsing, harden your OS as much as you can to the extent you’re willing to give up some conveniences, download Tor to have it handy in case you ever need it, compartmentalize your browsing if you can - having separate profiles or browsers for personal, social media, financial, etc. helps, and follow best OPSEC practices outlined by Privacy Guides or Techlore to the best of your ability or willingness.
All of the aforementioned applies to anyone trying to be private and have better online habits and practices and doesn’t necessarily only apply to your concerns but it does address them nonetheless still.
Speaking about checklists, I find https://activistchecklist.org/ to be a very great general checklist with appropriate warnings. It is for minimizing your digital footprint and for good overall digital hygiene. It can even help with higher threat models.
I am not sure to understand what you are searching though.
I still really wish @ActivistChecklist.org would use a free documentation license like CC BY-SA (as they are required to by at least three of their sources per my count)
Move to a jurisdiction where you won’t face age verification
Just kidding. But to be honest, we don’t know the next step that this trend will take us. The UK is already warning people to not use VPNs to circumvent these restrictions, but it appears to be more of a verbal warning than a genuine threat. Then again, it is almost impossible to find a fits-all-solution depending on the circumstances of your country.
I won’t be using ANYTHING that requires me to verify!! That will literally be my reason to stop!! It’s such a shame because if everyone did that. They wouldnt be having age verification for too long before they go back to the it should be. All this under the guise of “for the children" absolutely crazy. Parents don’t have to parent anymore! No need to be involved with what your child is doing online. You can trust that they will never be seeing ANYTHING inappropriate on the internet for as long as they are children! Then when the turn of age they will happily hand over their ID anywhere and everywhere to get a look at all the content that they have been missing out on and go on a life long bender of age verified material like they have never seen before!! Government and big tech will be very happy about that. People handing over their real identity willingly to use a platform that they can easily track right to your front door!!
So much helpful discussion here guys, thanks! Keep it coming, if you can.
I do hear some people saying deleting/leaving these platforms is the best. I agree, at least in my case, and that is a goal of mine, so I’ll make a post about it in the future.
I find it hard to take ActivistChecklist seriously. They low-key push EasyOptOuts, a service that apparently requires submitting “current and past phone numbers, emails, addresses, housemates.” There is no such thing as “removing your info” from data broker websites. If mistakes were made and info was provided or leaked, the only thing you can do is wait for that data to become outdated.
Besides, it only scratches the surface and only provides mitigation rather than real solutions, such dumping social media altogether, using only free software on all devices (including any Internet-of-Crap devices and network appliances), and ripping out communication modules from TVs, cars, and other devices that should not be communicating anything.
