Let's Talk About Privacy

Privacy is sometimes a complicated topic, because there are varying opinions around the world. But I think the consensus is people do care about it, but don't take action. That's what I'm seeing as a problem with it.

For us, whenever we work with anyone or a service, it is part of our process in deciding if that service is compatible with us: What are their ethics? What are their privacy considerations? It's why most of our software that we run is open source and self-hosted, because we know where that data is being stored, and we can keep tight control over it.

Rather than the big names, “Google, Meta” just distributing everyone's stuff, we've recently seen it with Meta: leaking really personal information to the worldwide web from their AI tool. There are people talking in WhatsApp using the AI bot, and those chats are being exposed, and there's some really dark stuff coming out. Things like this simply should not happen. If they weren't just this hungry, evil monopoly, they wouldn't do it. But they're evil, and people need to be aware of that.

Where that comes back to our opinion and usage of stuff, this is where it kind of conflicts, because we have clients, and they are using those platforms. So where do we cross the line? We help build their audiences on those platforms, but those platforms are the ones that are destroying privacy worldwide. There's this kind of very interesting battle that's going on, I think, within people's personal lives and, of course, our business. I'm sure many other businesses as well have privacy as a pillar, as a bedrock for their organization.

What is our responsibility as humans? I think it's to be aware for starters, and also just to be a little more careful with what you share, where you put it. Really think about where you're putting it, and what service you're using to put that out on. If you mind that information being exposed. I'm sure those people are thinking that they're talking in a private messaging app, they think that it's private, but it's absolutely not. Meta goes on about end-to-end encryption in WhatsApp, but really, I don't think so, because why would all this information be put out? It does not make sense.

If you're excited to move away from a really disgusting company, then we recommend privacy-first tools like Signal for messaging and Proton for secure email and file storage, rather than mainstream options like the Google Suite. Take five minutes and have a read of this: https://proton.me/blog/why-choose-proton-over-google.

I just want to make it clear, as well, to all of our clients and future clients: we do take this stuff seriously. There are things that do cost a business more money to keep your information secure and safe and away from these prying eyes. We try to remain as transparent as possible in everything we do along the steps and information that we hold. We do try to hold as little as possible.

What privacy-focused, end-to-end encrypted, and ideally open source platform do you use for communication - both personally and as a business?

Lots of love to all, and stay private.