{"id":262,"date":"2020-05-10T19:56:36","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T02:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opensourceit.org\/blog\/?p=262"},"modified":"2020-09-17T18:25:35","modified_gmt":"2020-09-18T01:25:35","slug":"own-your-internet-identity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/opensourceit.org\/blog\/2020\/05\/10\/own-your-internet-identity\/","title":{"rendered":"Own Your Online Identity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Where do people go when they look for you<\/em> online? Do they log in to Mark Zuckerberg’s website<\/a> and add you as a “friend”?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mark<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Do they send you a WhatsApp or Instagram message?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Or send you an email to Larry and Sergei’s website<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Shocking<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are several problems with the services that many of us use to identify ourselves on the internet and communicate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protect Your Data<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One problem that most people are aware of, is the issue of what companies like Facebook and Google do with your personal data. Many people aren’t aware of what they are trading in exchange for these “free” services. As companies like Facebook and Google further entrench themselves in our digital culture, there is the danger that fewer people even question what is being exchanged. Children and the younger generations are especially vulnerable to blindly accepting this exchange since they have never known anything else and may have trouble distinguishing between what these companies provide and what is possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reject Monopoly<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’m not a patriotic person, but there are some traditions within U.S. history that I identify with as an American. As Americans, we recognize the harm of unchecked power and influence, and we reject the practices of monopoly and fascism. And yet, due to the nature of capitalism, these forces relentlessly plague our republic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facebook (including Instagram and WhatsApp) controls the overwhelming majority of social networking. Not only does this give Facebook excessive power and influence over our democracy, it also excludes friends, family and businesses from online social communication who choose not to use Facebook. Prior to Facebook, et al. we all connected and shared on the democratic playing field of email and telephony. We can restore that democracy and decentralization to social networking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Embrace Freedom and Community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are four major components of our digital identity that Open Source I.T. can liberate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n