Privacy

September 10, 2021

The State of Privacy Laws in the United States

In recent decades, privacy has become one of the most important issues on the minds of lawmakers. With the rise of digital devices that can track our every move, the desire for privacy is growing in an increasingly public society. And while many Americans have a general desire for “privacy,” the amount you receive is heavily dependent on where you live. While there are some federal privacy laws, most consumer privacy comes from state-level bills. And while some states have thorough, fair privacy laws on the books, the vast majority simply do not.

America’s focus on state-led privacy laws is in contrast to Europe’s lawmaking; the European Union’s main privacy law is the General Data Protection Regulation. Because of this, privacy in the E.U. is governed by this one law, and 92% of companies believe they can comply with every aspect of the law [1]. Because Europe has one overarching privacy law, it is much simpler to understand your privacy rights, whether as an individual or a business. Unfortunately, in the United States though, it is quite the opposite. Privacy laws in the country are currently a mishmash of federal and state laws that confuse and harm individuals simply trying to protect themselves.

A Barrage of State Bills

Simply put, U.S. privacy laws are so unorganized because there are so many of them. Even at the federal level, there isn’t an all-encompassing privacy law, but a collection of specialized laws. For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects medical privacy, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects students, educators, and schools. When it comes to privacy rights, at least at the federal level, it really depends on your specific situation. Although laws such as HIPAA and FERPA do an adequate job of protecting privacy, they are far too specific to offer comprehensive privacy rights that extend to every facet of life.

While federal-level laws are specific to industries, some state-level laws provide all-encompassing privacy protections. Unfortunately, those state laws are few and far between. Only California, Colorado and Virginia have comprehensive data privacy laws [2]. These laws give consumers notice and choice regarding their data. For example, under these laws, a company must tell consumers if it is selling their data, and must allow consumers to access, move, or entirely delete that data. However, while these laws are certainly a good starting point for true consumer privacy, even these three bills are quite limited in effect.

Why are Privacy Protections so Poor?

While those three states have “all-encompassing” privacy laws, they still have glaring holes in protection. In every state except California, privacy laws specifically exclude a “private right of action,” or the ability to sue a business for privacy violations as an individual. Additionally, Virginia’s law has no civil rights protections and allows businesses to continue the status quo of collecting and selling consumer data [2]. It’s no wonder that Amazon lobbyists wrote the first draft of Virginia’s privacy bill [3].

For other states, the situation is even grimmer. States like Florida, Georgia, and others don’t allow consumers to opt out of data sharing. These two states also don’t even require government entities to ever dispose of your data [4]. Ultimately, most states have few genuine protections for consumers. For the most part, businesses can do whatever they please once they have your data.

And due to strong lobbying by tech companies, it will likely remain this way in many states [2]. Big Tech companies pay millions each year to lobby lawmakers to write and support laws favorable to them. For example, Facebook spent nearly USD $20 million in lobbying in 2020, while Amazon spent USD $18 million [5]. And while this lobbying doesn’t come cheap, it’s a lot cheaper than allowing consumers to opt out of data sales. Ultimately, the reason why so many states don’t offer comprehensive privacy laws is because Big Tech doesn’t want them. Put simply, Big Tech is willing to pay big money to keep strong privacy laws off the books.

So, What Can We Do?

In most states, it’s now up to individual businesses and firms to protect consumer data. And while Big Tech is unlikely to change any time soon, other businesses can still fight for consumer privacy. Taking simple steps like encrypting documents and backing up your data offline can substantially better protect your clients’ data. After all, Americans want privacy. By taking steps to protect customers and their data, businesses and firms can offer what Big Tech can’t: True privacy protections for their customers.

At an individual level, supporting businesses and firms that prioritize privacy is the best way to show support for strong privacy laws. Additionally, simply supporting federal or state laws that give genuine privacy rights to consumers is another great way to stand up for privacy rights. Since Big Tech wants to continue the status quo of endless data collection and sales, it’s up to individuals to support businesses and firms that offer what Big Tech can’t.

AXEL Supports Your Privacy

At AXEL, we believe privacy is a right. And unlike the Big Tech companies, we’ll never sell your data to third parties, ensuring your data is only yours. Our file-sharing and storage application, AXEL Go, uses blockchain technology and AES 256-bit encryption to provide the most secure file-sharing system in the industry. Whether for business or personal use, AXEL Go helps protect your (and your clients’) most important files.

Sign up here to receive a free 14-day trial of AXEL Go Premium. After the trial period, you can choose to continue your Premium account for just $9.99/month or use our Basic service free of charge. After all, our business is protecting your data, not collecting it. Together, we can help prioritize privacy rights across the country.

[1] Gooch, Peter. “A New Era for Privacy GDPR Six Months on.” Deloitte. 2018. https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/risk/deloitte-uk-risk-gdpr-six-months-on.pdf.

[2] Klosowski, Thorin. “The State of Consumer Data Privacy Laws in the US (And Why It Matters).” The New York Times. September 06, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/state-of-privacy-laws-in-us/.

[3] Birnbaum, Emily. “From Washington to Florida, Here Are Big Tech’s Biggest Threats from States.” Protocol. February 19, 2021. https://www.protocol.com/policy/virginia-maryland-washington-big-tech.

[4] McNabb, Joanne, and Paul Bischoff. “Internet Privacy Laws by US State: Does Yours Protect Online Privacy?” Comparitech. July 29, 2021. https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/which-us-states-best-protect-online-privacy/.

[5] Tracy, Ryan, Chad Day, and Anthony DeBarros. “Facebook and Amazon Boosted Lobbying Spending in 2020.” The Wall Street Journal. January 24, 2021. https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-and-amazon-boosted-lobbying-spending-in-2020-11611500400.

August 27, 2021

Bitcoin has Entered the Mainstream. Now What?

For centuries, individual governments have created, distributed, and regulated their own physical currencies. Even with the rise of checks, debit cards, and credit cards, nationalized currency is still the norm for every country on Earth. Of course, the physical currency itself isn’t valuable. After all, a $100 bill isn’t made with $100 worth of materials; the bill is valuable because the government says it’s worth $100. So if the material itself doesn’t provide the value, what if something other than physical currency could provide value too?

Even something as integrated as physical currency was still susceptible to new, digital ideas. In 2009, bitcoin was launched. While it languished in relative obscurity for its first few years, it entered the public consciousness after one high-profile case: the Silk Road marketplace. The revelation of a thriving, online black market that survived on anonymous, digital payments was frightening to many. However, it also showed what the future of currency could be. A fully digital, borderless currency has the potential to change the entire global economy. And while this economic revolution is a long way away, bitcoin continues to gain momentum, proving itself to be more than just a fad. And while bitcoin may never overtake national currencies, its ever-growing acceptance shows that it isn’t going away any time soon.

From Obscurity to Omnipresence

When bitcoin was first launched, it was almost completely unknown. After all, cryptocurrencies weren’t really a thing in 2009. And even until 2016, an estimated 46% of all bitcoin transactions were used for illegal goods and services [1]. Put simply, bitcoin was much more popular among the dark corners of the Internet than the general population in the coin’s early days. However, in 2017, bitcoin entered the mainstream. That year, the value of bitcoin increased 1,824%, from under USD $1,000 to a then-high of USD $19,783 [2]. And while bitcoin’s value remained volatile after this jump, it proved that bitcoin was more than a currency for illegal goods; it was a currency with the potential to revolutionize business and government.

In 2021, it is beginning to realize that potential. While widespread use and acceptance of bitcoin is still hypothetical, major corporations are beginning to embrace the revolutionary cryptocurrency. Businesses that accept bitcoin payments include AT&T, Overstock and PayPal [3]. And while traditional cash and credit cards still make up the vast majority of purchases at these businesses, bitcoin’s increased acceptance highlights its continued momentum in 2021.

In addition to corporations’ acceptance, some national governments are encouraging the use of bitcoin as well. In June 2021, El Salvador passed a law making bitcoin a legal currency in the country [4]. While it does not go into effect until September 7, this radical experiment could be the turning point for bitcoin. If successful, El Salvador could show how bitcoin can be used as an effective, convenient and stable currency. Its potential success in El Salvador could lead to more widespread adoption as legal tender in various countries, making the coin even more valuable, and more stable. However, if unsuccessful, it could highlight bitcoin’s volatility, decreasing its value and slowing its momentum.

Government Regulations

While most countries don’t accept bitcoin as a currency, that doesn’t mean that it is free from government oversight. Although bitcoin was created as a decentralized, international currency, it is still subject to national laws. And with its growing popularity comes growing regulation. For example, China has banned banks and other financial institutions from providing services regarding cryptocurrency. This means bitcoin trading is outlawed in China, although individuals are still allowed to hold cryptocurrencies [5]. China’s government blames bitcoin’s high volatility for the ban, claiming that cryptocurrency trading could put individuals and the entire nation’s economy at risk.

In the United States, however, bitcoin trading is legal and faces relatively few regulations. Americans are free to buy and sell cryptocurrencies with little government interference. However, it may not be this simple for long. Lawmakers are attempting to increase regulations on bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, stating that they pose a tax evasion risk [6]. Therefore, Congress is debating the addition of more tax-reporting requirements for cryptocurrencies [7]. So while cryptocurrency faces few regulations in the United States today, it will likely become regulated similarly to stocks and gold in the future.

Finally, bitcoin has faced pressure from environmental activists as well. The process of bitcoin “mining” is energy-intensive, with high-powered computers constantly churning to solve complex algorithms. Due to this mining, the cryptocurrency itself has a larger carbon footprint than American Airlines [8]. Because of this massive environmental impact, bitcoin may not be a sustainable currency, as it will remain minable until 2140 [9].

The Future of Bitcoin

In a way, bitcoin is similar to a promising startup: It burst into the mainstream in 2017 and has shown incredible potential. However, it’s going up against a powerful competitor: Physical currency. Therefore, bitcoin has to prove its worth in order to survive. Can it maintain stability and keep consumer trust? Can it offer benefits that physical currency can’t? Right now, we simply don’t know. However, its increased acceptance by businesses and governments can certainly lead to trust, stability and convenience. Therefore, its potential is still sky-high.

Ultimately, potential is not the same as success though. An estimated 17% of Americans now own a share of bitcoin [10]. But many of those owners see bitcoin as an investment, rather than a competing currency. And for those who don’t own bitcoin, it is still seen as unstable, confusing and complex. Put simply, bitcoin is not more convenient than physical currency in 2021, and is significantly more volatile. It doesn’t have the widespread use and trust that it requires to be a competing currency. So while bitcoin has certainly gained momentum and trust in recent years, it still has a long way to go before proving itself to be a viable, everyday currency.

[1] Foley, Sean, and Jonathan R. Karlsen. “Sex, Drugs, and Bitcoin: How Much Illegal Activity Is Financed Through Cryptocurrencies?” OUP Academic. April 04, 2019. https://academic.oup.com/rfs/article/32/5/1798/5427781.

[2] Morris, David Z. “Bitcoin Hits a New Record High, But Stops Short of $20,000.” Fortune. December 17, 2017.

https://fortune.com/2017/12/17/bitcoin-record-high-short-of-20000/.

[3] Lisa, Andrew. “10 Major Companies That Accept Bitcoin.” Yahoo! Finance. August 25, 2021. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-major-companies-accept-bitcoin-190340692.html.

[4] “Bitcoin to Become Legal Tender in El Salvador on Sept 7.” Reuters. June 25, 2021. https://www.reuters.com/technology/bitcoin-become-legal-tender-el-salvador-sept-7-2021-06-25/

[5] “China Bans Financial, Payment Institutions from Cryptocurrency Business.” Reuters. May 18, 2021. https://www.reuters.com/technology/chinese-financial-payment-bodies-barred-cryptocurrency-business-2021-05-18/.

[6] Franck, Thomas. “U.S. Treasury Calls for Stricter Cryptocurrency Compliance with IRS, Says They Pose Tax Evasion Risk.” CNBC. May 20, 2021. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/20/us-treasury-calls-for-stricter-cryptocurrency-compliance-with-irs.html.

[7] Kelly, Makena. “Controversial Crypto Rules Remain in Infrastructure Bill after House Vote.” The Verge. August 25, 2021. https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/25/22641375/cryptocurrency-infrastructure-irs-tax-developers-miners-bitcoin.

[8] Mellor, Sophie. “Elon Musk Is Right: Bitcoin Mining Is Bad for the Planet.” Fortune. May 13, 2021.

https://fortune.com/2021/05/13/musk-bitcoin-mining-bad-planet-heres-how-bad/.

[9] Hayes, Adam. “What Happens to Bitcoin After All 21 Million Are Mined?” Investopedia. August 23, 2021. https://www.investopedia.com/tech/what-happens-bitcoin-after-21-million-mined/.

[10] “About 46 Million Americans Now Own Bitcoin.” Nasdaq. May 14, 2021.https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/about-46-million-americans-now-own-bitcoin-2021-05-14.

June 11, 2021

The 2021 Guide to Online Privacy

According to a 2019 survey, nearly three-quarters of Americans are “more alarmed than ever” about their online privacy[1]. This concern is well deserved, as it seems every day there’s another story about shady corporate data collection policies or a major data breach.

So, how can you protect yourself? Luckily, you don’t have to live off the grid without electricity while hoarding military surplus MREs from the Cold War to prevent total surveillance. While most of the Big Tech offerings don’t make user privacy a top priority, some alternatives do. Here, we’ll look into the common ways you can stay private online.

Web Browsers

The most popular web browser, by far, is Google Chrome[2]. Unfortunately, it’s also the worst for privacy. In fact, you may notice a running theme throughout this guide; stop using Google! Google is one of the top privacy offenders, and its suite of software and services is absolutely massive, so you probably use them frequently. Safer ways to surf the web include the following solutions.

Firefox. Developed by the non-profit Mozilla corporation, Firefox provides a wealth of privacy settings. However, many of these options are not on by default, so you will want to dig into them a bit to set things up how you want.

Safari. This is the standard web browser for iOS and macOS. As far as Big Tech companies go, Apple stands out as being better about privacy than the others, which holds true for its browser. Again, you will need to optimize the settings for privacy, but the interface is clear and intuitive. Apple makes its money from high-priced hardware, so it has less incentive to collect and sell as much data as possible.

Brave. Brave is a newcomer to the browser game, and it has made its name on protecting privacy. It blocks ads, trackers, scripts, and more. It offers high-performance compared to its competition too! However, there are two caveats; It serves you ads by default (although you get paid for viewing them and you can disable them), and it’s built off of the Chromium browser, which uses the same code base as the nefarious Chrome. On the plus side, this does make it compatible with popular Chrome extensions, so it really boils down to your risk-reward calculations.

Search Engines

Stop using Google! Just don’t. Now, for some searches, Google will likely return better results. But for the vast majority of occasions, one of the following alternatives will get the job done without tracking your every move.

DuckDuckGo. This is easily the most usable privacy search engine. It has most of the same features (Videos/Images/News/etc.) as Google, and they never track your behavior. It doesn’t employ invasive algorithms either; it parses search results via a simple traffic calculation, so you also don’t get the censorship prevalent on Google.

For most users, DuckDuckGo is going to be the way to go. Other privacy search engines are significantly more niche, but we’ll still cover a few of the more interesting ones.

Ecosia. This is a front-end for the Bing search engine, but it ditches the trackers associated with Microsoft’s product. So, you get the power of Bing without the drawbacks. One of the more novel aspects of this solution is that the Ecosia organization plants trees when you use it. Of course, to fund this, you have to deal with ads, but at least you’re not being surveilled.

Peekier. Peekier says it’s “The most privacy-oriented search engine,” and its official privacy policy is impressive. It uses its own algorithm and generates results with thumbnail images of the sites themselves. So, it’s aesthetically pleasing, albeit a bit more bandwidth-hungry (just something to be aware of if you’re dealing with low data caps from your internet service provider.)

SearX. This is a very interesting option that’s completely decentralized. In fact, you can set up your own instance of the search engine to help out with the project! It has helpful advanced search capabilities that can assist with finding particular files. Unfortunately, it’s also the least user-friendly (you have to click on an instance before searching) and can be buggy. Still, it’s definitely one to keep an eye out for if the team can iron out the kinks.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

One of the easiest ways to hide your location and identifying information when online is to invest in a VPN. They’re starting to become mainstream, as you’ve probably heard advertisements for them on your favorite podcast or YouTube channel.

With a VPN, you’re using a service that masks your network’s IP address. So, trackers online think the computer is in a completely different part of the world. Another benefit is the data sent between your computer and websites is encrypted and unreadable to would-be snoops. We recommend everyone use a VPN if they want to remain private on the internet. Many VPN providers are available, and we encourage you to do your own research about which is suitable for you. A quick DuckDuckGo search should put you on the correct path (see what we did there?)

Android vs. iOS

As we previously detailed, Apple is generally better with privacy. Android, a Google product, is pretty hopeless out of the box, but if you’re a tech whiz, it can be improved. If you need to get an Android phone for compatibility or price reasons, we recommend getting one you can install custom ROMs on and download a third-party privacy-based operating system. This isn’t for the everyday user and only works on specific phone models. The most popular privacy ROMs are LineageOS, CalyxOS, and GrapheneOS.

The first two attempt to replicate the functionality of Android while maintaining a semblance of privacy. GrapheneOS, on the other hand, goes much further and is recommended by people such as Edward Snowden. Be warned, while this will provide the most privacy possible, many people will be put off by the learning curve and lack of features/common applications.

There aren’t many non-Android or iOS alternatives. You could try out the Linux-based PINEPHONE, which offers a pared-down Linux experience and physical switches that can turn off the cellular radios, microphones, and more. It’s an inexpensive way to get robust privacy, but again, you will experience tradeoffs in usability.

One more privacy tip regarding your cellphones; don’t go with the major carriers. They will undoubtedly run credit checks and require all of your personal information when you sign up. Avoid these invasions by going with prepaid services. With these, you typically don’t have to give up any personal data if you don’t want to, and you can buy refills with cash at a variety of retail stores. They also tend to be significantly less expensive overall, and you’re also not locked into a burdensome contract. Furthermore, they all use the same networks that the big names do. It’s a no-brainer!

Alternative methods of payment

One of the worst feelings is seeing unaccounted-for charges on your credit card statements. It’s a hassle to reverse, and you may be without the stolen funds for days or weeks before it gets sorted out. It’s a situation that seems all too common in modern times, and most people accept it as a necessary hazard when putting your credit card information online. This doesn’t have to be the case!

You can protect your banking information by using payment services that provide users with masked credit card numbers. Companies like Abine Blur let you load up prepaid virtual cards that can be used anywhere (even for booking hotels). For privacy-conscious people, it allows the peace of mind that’s so sought after when making online purchases.

Social Media

Social media is tough to replace. The first recommendation we have is not to use Facebook. For businesses and those wanting to keep in touch with friends, this is a tricky proposition. If you don’t absolutely need it, however, do not use it. If you must, only put the bare minimum amount of personal information on it. There have been multiple scandals and instances of Zuckerberg’s company selling user data and behavior analysis to third parties without consent. This goes for its popular acquisitions, too, such as Instagram and WhatsApp.

As far as other platforms go, we recommend:

Invidious. This is a YouTube front-end that doesn’t track your behavior. It has other great features, such as the ability to download videos in various formats/qualities. Invidious also blocks all advertisements, and you can listen to the audio when the screen is turned off, making it fantastic for podcasts.

Like SearX for search engines, you have to use a specific instance, and we recommend www.yewtu.be, which doesn’t have much downtime. With this instance, you can even create an account not linked to your identity where you can maintain subscriptions to your favorite content creators. It’s the best way to enjoy YouTube.

Mastodon. Mastodon is a Twitter replacement that’s fully decentralized. It’s an open-source project that is entirely un-monetized. So, you’ll never see advertisements or promoted posts, and there’s no incentive to collect data since it won’t be sold. Of course, the community isn’t as large as Twitter’s, but it is growing steadily and is engaging enough to try out.

Messaging

Messing apps are an important way to talk to friends and family without using insecure SMS text messages. However, if you’re using Big Tech solutions like Facebook Messenger, GChat, or even the end-to-end encrypted WhatsApp (owned by Facebook), your communications aren’t necessarily private. If you want a more secure messaging app, use open-source, encrypted options like Telegram and Signal.

File sharing

Sending and storing files via the cloud is a convenient way to have all your documents at your fingertips. However, if you use common programs like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, your content is also at the greedy fingertips of Big Tech. Prevent corporate surveillance and data mining by using the decentralized, distributed AXEL Go.

AXEL Go combines secure blockchain technology, the InterPlanetary File System, and hardened military-grade encryption to provide the best privacy platform for sharing and storing your data. Sign up today and receive a free 14-day trial of our Premium service with all features unlocked.

The privacy revolution

As you can see, protecting your digital privacy isn’t impossible. You may have to make concessions or change your daily workflow a bit, but with the growing community around privacy-based software and services, you can stay out of the watchful gaze of Big Tech while still enjoying the utility of the internet. We hope you give some of our suggestions a shot and see that the current reality of corporate surveillance and censorship doesn’t have to carry on into the future.

With your help, we can usher in a new era of the internet that delivers on its initial promise of expanding human interaction and knowledge without privacy issues. Join the privacy revolution. Change the world.

[1] Statista, “Share of internet users who are more alarmed than ever about their online privacy vs. their willingness to accept certain risks to their online privacy to make their life more convenient as of December 2019, by country”, Statista.com, Dec. 2019, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1023952/global-opinion-concern-internet-privacy-risk-convenience/

[2] Statista, “Market share held by leading desktop internet browsers in the United States from January 2015 to March 2021”, Statista.com, March 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/272697/market-share-desktop-internet-browser-usa/

April 30, 2021

Apple and Facebook Fight Over Privacy

Apple and Facebook are currently ranked 1 and 6 respectively in the list of biggest companies by market cap[1]. These tech behemoths wield immense influence in both the business and social spheres. They also have different, seemingly opposing views on the nature of privacy in today’s society. These disparate philosophies have increased tensions between the two tech giants, and recently it’s escalated. We’ll break down the history and the sources of the standoff.

A brief history

Things weren’t always so frosty between the organizations. In fact, according to a 2012 biography, Apple CEO Steve Jobs admired Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg[2]. So much so, it was a driving force in the reluctance of Apple to start a competing social network. However, after the death of Jobs in 2011, things cooled off considerably when current CEO Tim Cook took over.

Perhaps sensing the way things were going in the industry, Cook came out in 2014 with an open letter that took indirect jabs at Facebook and Google[3]. In it, he claimed Apple was not in the business of creating detailed user profiles on individuals through the use of data mining. While he did not mention his competitors directly, it was obvious who he was denouncing.

That same year, Zuckerberg fired back in an interview with TIME Magazine[4], stating

“A frustration I have is that a lot of people increasingly seem to equate an advertising business model with somehow being out of alignment with you customers. I think it’s the most ridiculous concept. What, you think because you’re paying Apple that you’re somehow in alignment with them? If you were in alignment with them, then they’d make their products a lot cheaper!”

We’d recommend reading this article. Perhaps everyone was a bit naïve at the time, but re-reading it through the lens of 2021 with an understanding of the path Facebook took, the plan Zuckerberg outlined seems much more nefarious and a good example of real-life supervillainy. What could go wrong with the CEO of the world’s most invasive social platform wanting to bring internet connection to the entirety of the world?

We digress. Throughout the next seven years, the two CEOs traded barbs on issues such as the Cambridge Analytica scandal and Apple’s monopolistic control of its App Store. In the end, the arguments usually boiled down to Tim Cook accusing Facebook of invading users’ privacies and Zuckerberg saying Apple products cost too much or that the company is an unfair gatekeeper.

We tend to fall on Cook’s side of the argument. It’s true Apple products cost significantly more than competing hardware solutions. But, as we outlined in a previous blog about free software, trading privacy for free or cheap products has serious drawbacks. Now, back to the feud.

Tensions boil over

Fast-forward to today. In late 2020, Apple started requiring software on the App Store to come with informative “privacy labels” that clearly state the data the app collects on its users. This was great news for AXEL, but not so much for Facebook. Facebook Messenger alone has a privacy label that reads more like a novel than a brief overview[5].

The labels, combined with the most recent update, have sent Facebook reeling for solutions. The latest update goes a step farther than labels and provides users with the oft-talked-about ‘Opt-In’ scenario regarding data collection[6]. ‘Opt-In’ is a concept that requires users to agree to corporate data collection formally. This is a major step forward in the fight for digital privacy rights. It’s much better than current United States privacy regulations in states such as California and Virginia. Those pieces of legislation mandate companies provide an ‘Opt-Out’ option. While better than nothing, the fact is that consumers are busy. They don’t have the knowledge or desire to scroll through layers of confusing websites to exercise their right to opt-out.

This makes Opt-In the preferred way to offer privacy. It makes privacy the default, which will vastly increase the number of people exiting the corporate surveillance scheme. Unsurprisingly, companies like Facebook are not happy about this! Personalized advertising is the company’s lifeblood, and without user data to gather and analyze, ad revenues will likely fall.

Facebook’s response

Facebook hasn’t taken these changes lying down. Their argument centers around the effects felt by small businesses due to Apple’s changes. Facebook frames its data collection around its usefulness to small businesses. Without the ability to target people most likely to buy, these companies will feel the brunt of the impact, causing many of them to close.

Facebook started a public relations blitz, using television commercials and full-page ads in popular newspapers[7] to drive home the point. It has received some mockery for this in the mainstream media. It certainly does appear to be a rather transparent way to further its own goals while seeming to have more profound principles.

Facebook also raised another issue, and though it didn’t receive as much attention from the media, it probably has more merit. They claim that Apple’s recent privacy push isn’t out of any benevolent intentions for consumers but rather greed. Apple receives anywhere from 15-30% of App Store sales, depending on the developers’ overall revenue. By giving consumers the choice to opt into data collection, they must know that most users will decline. This could cause a shift from free apps that generate revenue based on advertising to more paid apps. In turn, Apple receives more money from downloads since more of them are paid. If true, it’s a very sneaky way for the tech manufacturer to make more money while playing the good guy.

The reality is that both Facebook and Apple are profit-driven mega-corporations looking to protect their businesses. You can’t blame either of them for this feud, although it seems obvious that Apple comes out ahead from a public utility perspective. Whatever the root cause, any initiative to substantially increase digital privacy is a good thing in our book.

AXEL’s commitment

AXEL is dedicated to fighting for digital privacy rights for everyone. The concept of data custody and forging lasting trust between consumers and technology is embedded into our corporate philosophy. We develop our products and services to live up to these lofty ideals.

If you are looking for a privacy-focused cloud storage and file-sharing platform, try AXEL Go free for 14-days. During the trial period, you receive all Premium features, including removing file-size restrictions, Secure Fetch functionality, and storage encryption. AXEL never collects personal information to sell to third parties or mines your content for advertising. We’re an alternative tech company you can trust. Secure your files. Secure your digital future with AXEL.

[1] “Largest Companies by Market Cap”, CompaniesMarketCap.com, April 30, 2021, https://companiesmarketcap.com/

[2] Emil Protalinski, “Steve Jobs admired Zuckerberg too much to compete with him”, CNET.com, July 17, 2012, https://www.cnet.com/news/steve-jobs-admired-zuckerberg-too-much-to-compete-with-him/

[3] Steve Musil, “Tim Cook explains Apple’s privacy policies in open letter”, CNET.com, Sept. 17, 2014, https://www.cnet.com/news/tim-cook-explains-apples-privacy-policies-in-open-letter/

[4] Lev Grossman, “Inside Facebook’s Plan to Wire the World”, Time.com, Dec. 15, 2014, https://time.com/facebook-world-plan/

[5] Ben Lovejoy, “App privacy labels show stark contrasts among messaging apps”, 9to5mac.com, Jan. 4, 2021, https://9to5mac.com/2021/01/04/app-privacy-labels-messaging-apps/

[6] Ian Sherr, “Apple’s privacy battle with Facebook just became all-out war”, CNET.com, April 26, 2021, https://www.cnet.com/news/apples-privacy-battle-with-facebook-just-became-all-out-war/

[7] Megan Graham, “Facebook blasts Apple in new ads over iPhone privacy change”, CNBC, Dec. 16, 2020, https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/16/facebook-blasts-apple-in-new-ads-over-iphone-privacy-change-.html

April 2, 2021

Privacy Labels Reveal Interesting Insights About Popular Cloud Drives

In late 2020, Apple launched its Privacy Label initiative[1]. Now, all apps sold through the App Store need to include a privacy label with future updates. These labels inform consumers about how the application collects and uses consumer data. Since millions of people use file-sharing and cloud storage platforms to transfer and store their personal content, we believed it’d be interesting to compare the privacy labels of the Big Tech offerings to AXEL Go.

A primer on terminology

Before getting into the comparison, it’s important to define the terms you’ll see often. Apple separated the data the apps collect into three different categories.

Data Used to Track You. This is the most troublesome category. It means that the app tracks personal information explicitly to form a coherent picture of your identity. This could stretch across your entire internet usage or even into your real-life shopping habits. It’s a tactic Facebook notoriously employs[2], and it’s by far the most invasive type of data collection.

Companies engaged in these activities link data generated from the app with information from third parties for targeted advertising or analytics. These organizations potentially even share their data sets (including your exact location) with shady data brokers. If possible, we recommend ditching apps that track you like this.

Data Linked to You. This includes much of the same types of data as the previous category, except it is not tracked across your full web experience. It’s still linked to your identity, however, and is still sold to third parties regularly. Avoid it when you can.

Data Not Linked to You. This is data that the company has explicitly anonymized. It could mean removing direct identifiers like user ID/Name/Device ID and data manipulation to prevent re-linkage or de-anonymization. To claim this, you must not ‘fingerprint’ or use other data sets to establish a potential identity.

Now, onto the comparison.

Dropbox

Source: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dropbox-cloud-storage-backup/id327630330

DropBox comes out the worst in this comparison. It’s the only one with entries in the ‘Data Used to Track You’ category, making it a significant threat to the privacies of over 600 million users worldwide. It also collects a vast amount of data, including:

Contact Info (Name, email address, phone number, physical address, etc.)
Identifiers (Screen name, handle, account ID, etc.)
Purchases (Purchase history)
Contacts (List of your phone’s contacts, address books, social graphs, etc.)
Search History (information regarding searches you made in-app)
Usage Data (App launch info, taps, scrolling data, clicks, views, biometric eye data, etc.)
User Content (in this case, content stored on DropBox servers)
Diagnostics (crash logs, performance metrics, etc.)

Obviously, some of this data is more sensitive than other types. For instance, diagnostic information is potentially less harmful than giving up the contents of your cloud storage to what amounts to corporate surveillance. Regardless, it’s all info that they can link to you for identification purposes.

Google Drive

Source: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-drive/id507874739

Google isn’t known for its commitment to privacy. Although its cloud service, Google Drive, fares a bit better than Dropbox, there’s still not much to like. It collects the same types of data and adds “Location” into the mix. Why would a cloud storage application need to know your location? Unknown, but it likely isn’t a valid reason. It’s unspecified whether they monitor your ‘Precise Location’ or ‘Coarse Location,’ but Google doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt. Assume they know exactly where you are at all times when you’re using any of their services, including Drive. They also collect the nebulously-termed “Other” data, which Apple doesn’t define. If you’re one of the over one billion users[3] of Drive, consider alternatives.

Microsoft OneDrive

Source: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-onedrive/id477537958

Of the Big Tech offerings, Microsoft’s OneDrive is the least offensive. It collects the least amount of data and doesn’t track you across websites. However, the personal information it does collect is still sensitive—especially Contact Info, Identifiers, and User Content. So, Microsoft not only collects your personally identifying information but, like its major competitors, it still mines user content. It’s an inexcusable invasion of privacy that anyone who cares about such matters can’t look past.

AXEL Go

Source: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/axel-go/id1462043114

The Silicon Valley mainstays don’t value your privacy. At the end of the day, they make a lot of money from your data alone. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any good options. Privacy-based alternatives like AXEL Go exist.

Our team designed the entire platform to promote privacy, security, and data custody. And that starts with the fact that AXEL doesn’t collect any data linked to its users. In fact, AXEL is the only competitor in this comparison that doesn’t link data to your identity. Most of the information we manage is diagnostic, and usage data, which helps our developers see how you’re using the app to inform future improvements. Any contact info we store is sufficiently anonymized so that nobody can link it back to you. We respect everyone’s right to privacy.

Try AXEL Go

If you’re used to sharing and storing data online with platforms such as Google Drive or Dropbox, AXEL Go is a breath of fresh air. Our simple, intuitive user interface is a breeze to navigate while still offering industry-leading security and privacy features.

The platform is backed by secure technology like the InterPlanetary File System, blockchain, and military-grade encryption. Together with the fact that only AXEL emphasizes users take control of their personal information, you’ve got an application that stands above the competition. Try it out today and see the AXEL difference. Basic accounts are free, and you can upgrade to a Premium account with all features for only $9.99/month. Help usher in a better internet. Join the AXEL Revolution.

[1] Nick Statt. “Apple launches new App Store privacy labels so you can see how iOS apps use your data”, The Verge, Dec. 14, 2020, https://www.theverge.com/2020/12/14/22174017/apple-app-store-new-privacy-labels-ios-apps-public

[2] Aaron Holmes, “Facebook knows what you’re doing on other sites and in real life. This tool lets you see what it knows about you.”, Business Insider, Mar. 17, 2020, https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-clear-history-offline-activity-tracker-tool-how-to-use-2020-1

[3] Shoshana Wodinsky, “Google Drive is about to hit 1 billion users”, The Verge, Jul. 25, 2018, https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/25/17613442/google-drive-one-billion-users

March 17, 2021

A Breakdown of Google’s Alternative to the Third-Party Cookie

In an effort to distance itself from its less-than-stellar reputation on privacy, Google is developing and testing an alternative to third-party tracking cookies. It’s called the Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC), and the company claims it solves commonly-cited privacy issues with personalized advertising. Skeptical?

What is a cookie?

While most people know the term “cookie,” they might not understand precisely what they do. Before getting into Google’s replacement, here’s s a brief synopsis:

A cookie is a small file that stores pieces of user data to improve their web browsing experience. Each web server collects visitors’ browsing history, settings, or preferences and saves the data in a file. The next time the user visits that site, the server pulls the cookie’s information and provides a customized experience. This can manifest in several ways, such as saving:

Display language preferences.
Shopping carts between sessions.
Login information.
Authentication data so that users don’t have to enter a CAPTCHA.

These are examples of first-party cookies. The website you visit actually collects the data. It is difficult to imagine an internet without first-party cookies. Nobody wants to input all of their information every time they view a site. However, there is another type called third-party cookies.

Third-party cookies

Unaffiliated domains create third-party cookies, which track users across multiple sites. They use this data for retargeting campaigns and personalized advertising. Third-party cookies are receiving backlash from consumers and privacy advocates alike.

These are unlikely to be anonymized in any meaningful way, which leads to persistent tracking. So, unknown to the end-user, advertisers can craft detailed profiles on individuals and market directly to them across the entire internet. Not only is this a blatant invasion of privacy, but it is also susceptible to abuse from predatory companies.

Google’s response to the cookie crumbling

Google recently decided to ban third-party cookies across its ad platform and block them by default on its popular Chrome browser[1]. So, has the search giant finally seen the light and found a newfound commitment to privacy? One peek at their advertising revenues should tell you all you need to know (over $37 billion in Q3 2020[2] alone). Google will not stop tracking people through mobile devices and will still target individuals with ads based on user behavior on their first-party application. Google is large and diverse enough that even first-party cookies pose a problem.

But at least they won’t be sharing individuals’ data with third-party advertising companies anymore, right? The technical answer is “right,” but it’s a bit more complicated. What they’ve really done is create a different way to track people for personalized ads. They have many projects aiming to replace the functionality of third-party cookies under a less toxic name. The proposals seem to follow an avian theme for some reason, such as PIGIN, TURTLEDOVE, SPARROW, SWAN, SPURFOWL, PELICAN, PARROT, PARAKEET, and so on. But one idea has really taken flight…

Enter the FLoC

The FLoC project is deep into its testing phase and has been already delivered tangible results to advertisers (approximately 95% return on ad spend compared to third-party cookies[3]). FLoC stands for Federated Learning of Cohorts. A name that not only rolls right off the tongue but is also definitely not confusing and immediately makes its meaning known.

Snark aside, a FLoC clusters larger groups of people with similar interests together under a shared ID number (their “cohort”) and serves those within the group personalized ads. It uses sophisticated Machine Learning algorithms to analyze variables like the URLs visited, website content, and the typically nebulous “other factors.” So, Google still pulls this data from browsing history, but the information gets calculated on the user’s device rather than sent back to a Google server. This local data gets compiled with thousands of other users to remain private.

Privacy advocates, however, don’t see this as a suitable solution.

Issues with FLoC

Even looking past Google’s dubious past (and present) regarding privacy, the FLoC project raises concerns.

Fingerprinting. Millions of websites use hidden code to pull details about their visitors’ computers, and therefore, identities. With FLoC, Instead of distinguishing an individual’s browser from hundreds of millions of others, advertisers only have to worry about how many reside in a particular cohort (thousands?). Google is trying to mitigate this, but there’s no solution coming soon, and the project is already rolling out. Evidently, it’s not a top priority.
Contextual identification. Companies could combine a cohort ID with other information, such as data obtained from having a ‘Login with your Google account’ option to identify people. Furthermore, advertisers can infer demographics from a particular Cohort since people with similar browsing interests can likely be siloed into fairly accurate groups. Google claims it will protect ‘sensitive info’ like race and sexual preference, but its effectiveness is unknown. There’s less recourse for this when it does happen, too, because they’ll have plausible deniability about targeting these ‘protected’ entities.
Exploitation. FLoCs could result in the proliferation of exploitative practices. For instance, a cohort of people visiting sites about credit repair could receive ads for payday loans or other manipulative products and services.

Conclusion

This project is already well underway. The days of personalized advertising are here to stay. There’s simply too much money at stake for it to go away without explicit regulation. FLoC only applies to the Chrome browser, which happens to be by far the most popular web browser. If you don’t want to participate in these shenanigans, you’ll have to use a privacy-focused browser. FLoC seems like a step in the right direction over third-party cookies, but it’d be hard to be worse than them. Valid concerns still exist, and privacy-oriented people likely won’t celebrate this stopgap.

Stay private

AXEL promotes the concept of data custody and prioritizes keeping user data secure and private. If you don’t want Big Tech companies like Google mining your information and tracking you incessantly, break free from their hegemony. Share and store files online without anxiety. AXEL Go is a safe, privacy-focused platform that utilizes blockchain technology, the InterPlanetary File System, and AES 256-Bit encryption. Take back control of your digital privacy. Try AXEL Go today. For $9.99, you can upgrade to a premium account and unlock all of its unique features.

[1] David Temkin, “Charting a course towards a more privacy-first web”, Blog.google, March 3, 2021, https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/a-more-privacy-first-web/

[2] Kim Lyons, “YouTube brings in $5 billion in ad revenue as Alphabet and Google bounce back”, TheVerge.com, Oct.. 29, 2020, https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/29/21531711/google-alphabet-ad-revenue-youtube-waymo-cloud-search

[3] Chetna Bindra, “Building a privacy-first future for web advertising, Blog.google, Jan. 25, 2021, https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/2021-01-privacy-sandbox/