Tonight I achieved another key step in unlinking my data from the likes of the Data Cronies. Most people probably rely on Google and Apple to sync their contacts. We have also come to let FB and some of the other major players access our information. While it's really convenient for ourselves and even in keeping in touch with people we know -- and i love many aspects of this feature. It's come at the price for us the users, the generators and providers of the information. I see two major issues:
1)The data is ours. The Data Cronies are capitalizing off our data, but the data is ours. The exchange is unfair. With the great profits these companies earn, we should be entitled so some benefits. It's true that some of these companies are offering free services, services we need and enjoy. So I think there is something to be said for this exchange. But I have a couple issues with the current dynamic. First, the exchange was not made clear when we entered the agreement, when I agreed to used the services, the services didn't make it clear what they would be doing with the data. They didn't make it clear what type of agreement we would be entering into. Some people use the EULA and ToS to say that we did agree. However, I consider the greatly changing nature of the contract to be unfair. We enter into an agreement, but then the terms are randomly changed. I also take issue with the degree of complexity to what we are agreeing to. We don't have the time or technical knowledge to be able to make informed decisions. They agreement was intentionally manipulative.
2)Because there is so much value in getting us to user their platforms, contribute data, keep using the platforms and contribute more data, the companies have taken to using manipulative practices in every aspect of their software. It is pretty well documented and understood now, the many different techniques that are used to manipulate users, in terms of time spent, data input, and generally creating value for the company while not necessarily benefiting the user.
Because of these two major issues, I've been working on decoupling myself from the grasp of the Data Cronies. While this is not the easiest task, and there are tradeoffs that have to be made, in terms of usability, security, costs, time, convenience etc., tonight was a bit milestone.
I setup a nextcloud server on a remote host, downloaded my contact info from google, uploaded the contacts to the nextcloud server (I then proceeded to go through the contacts, which was actually far less than I expected, less than 400, deleted around 100). Then the fun started. I installed an app on my android phone: DAVDroid which can be used to for CardDAV and CalDAV two systems for syncing, you guessed it, contacts and calendars! A little tinkering to get the systems playing together, and my new and reduced contact list, previously on google's server, now on my own nextcloud server, was downloaded and synced with my phone! Now when I update a contact to my phone, it updates to the server, and in the future when I switch to a new phone, instead of needing to connect to google to download my contacts, I can just sync to my own nextcloud server!
I will need to look into possible data backup for the server, but considering that this technically is redundancy from my phone, that's just an extra layer of safeguard (which is good).
Anyway, this is one more step in detaching myself from the likes of Google et al. Perhaps some don't get the point, and perhaps it's a bigger deal to me than others, but I find having the ability to not be dependent on these companies and not be forced to play by their rules is still an important distinction. I think retaining control will ultimately push these companies towards great transparency, greater innovation, and ultimately a better technological landscape. But for that to happen, it will require use to push and pull in different directions, forcing change and improvements. We mustn't simply sit back and allow ourselves to be poked and prodded like digital sheep.
