Declaration of Digital Autonomy
From the Software Freedom Conservancy. I like the focus on consent, ownership, right to change/repair, privacy. Too end-user focused though, I’d want some mention of the producers of technology… there shouldn’t be any exploitation anywhere in the supply chain.
They don’t really state what they mean by [[Autonomy]] - I’ll take it as the definition of "freedom to act without being controlled by others or manipulated by covert influences".
Describes 4 top-level principles of ‘ethical technology’.
- in service of the people who use it
- informed consent
- empowering individual and collective digital action
- protect people’s privacy and other rights by design
Like that it gives some specific points for each of them.
in service of the people who use it
- freedom from surveillance, data gathering, data sales, and vendor and file format lock-in
informed consent
- study and understand the technology
- what information is being collected and stored
empowering individual and collective digital action
- ability to change what you are using
- ability to replace software on a device they have purchased
- ability to repair the technology
protect people’s privacy and other rights by design
- privacy
- open communication
- safety to develop ideas without fear of monitoring, risk, or retribution
Some additions I’d want
- doesn’t really give any definition of what is meant by digital, autonomy, and technology. The title references ‘digital autonomy’, then ‘ethical technology’ is the focus in the body. I guess they’re saying ethical technology should provide digital autonomy?
- very focused on the user - but technology must be free from violence and exploitation throughout the supply chain;
- who is it aimed at… who is we?