In 2019 we are Post-Snowden, Post-Cambridge-Analytica and Post-Privacy. But despite all the scandals and data breaches, not much has happened to curb the powers of the tech giants who have facilitated the erosion of our privacy. Quitting Facebook hasn’t been the answer nor has the GDPR solved the mess. What if we instead of trying to protect our data, launched a counter offensive to undermine Google’s and Facebook’s monopolies? What if we - instead of them - sold our own data?

The data we’re giving away for free is worth billions of dollars. According to the futurist Jaron Lanier, “a small family could in the very near term earn something like 20.000 Dollars a year from the value of their data.” Beyond the personal financial gain, democratized access to open data would encourage innovation, benefit research and thereby create healthy competition online in an industry ripe for change.

Selling our data might be a palpable solution - but is it an ethical one as well? Privacy activists would rather bring an end to all data collection. They argue that no value should be put on personal data and that doing so destroys our dignity as human beings. So who is right?

Panelists

Carl Miller - Research Director, Centre for the Analysis of Social Media, Demos

Shiv Malik - Streamr

Renate Samson - Open Data Institute

Valentina Pavel - former Mozilla Fellow at Privacy International

Chair: Naomi Colvin - Blueprint for Free Speech / Wikileaks

Evening Program

6:30 - 6:45 pm Doors Open

6:45 - 7:45 pm Panel Discussion

7:45 - 8:00 pm Q&A

8:00 - 9:00 pm Drinks

The Venue

Central London’s award winning RSA House is a focal point for social change and enlightened thinking, whilst being at the forefront of numerous discoveries and inventions.

MozFest

MozFest is the world's leading festival for the open Internet movement. It's a seven day celebration for, by, and about people who love the internet, showcasing world-changing ideas and technology through workshops, talks, and interactive sessions.

About Streamr

Streamr looks forward to a data economy where humans, AI and other smart machines are all trading real-time data. Instead of personal data travelling through and being subject to the whims of unaccountable tech giants, it should be owned by its producers and travel through open-source, decentralized networks beyond the control of any single entity. Data should be securely owned, efficiently shared and fairly monetized.

Learn more at streamr.network