andrewgee

This is a question for Cory - thanks for doing the AMA everyone!

We're at a pivotal time in terms of determining what information qualifies as personal/private, and it's fairly unfortunate (however predictable) that companies beat us to the punch in terms of getting their hands on our data cost-free, simply because there were no protections in place when the data field emerged.

It feels like we're slowly starting to loosen the grip that corporations have on our personal information, but what do you think is going to be the big factor that tip the scales back in favour of the individual? What is the most effective thing that individuals like myself can be doing to help?

Thanks for the reply!

That's an interesting approach, and I agree I think it should be an opt-in system instead of an opt-out one. That said, I wonder what effect it would have on progress in the data-driven 'software' (or gaming and networking) space. Most tech ventures have a data component, and being able to re-sell that data is often the only revenue stream they can offer - and therefore the only thing that makes them appealing to investors. No value proposition = no capital investment = no progress.

I suppose in an equilibrium this wouldn't be an issue because people would most likely opt in anyways, knowing their data is safe and as long as there is an incentive. I am eager to see the day where we own our own data and carry it around in a little digital 'briefcase', and get to sell it ourselves to the companies. It's so valuable, I'm just upset we're not getting cut in on the deal.