Notes
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13 December 2019 07:30 UTC
Devastated.
Got to keep going and keep fighting. I see all you progressive campaigners and your hard work. I’m really grateful.
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11 December 2019 10:28 UTC
Was recommended that I do some “mindfulness/meditation” so I started to look into some of the apps. The privacy policies are, quite frankly, terrifying (and not exactly helping me right now).
I looked at 7 of the most recommended “mindfulness” apps on iOS…
- Some of them collect deeply personal information, though of course they claim it’s not personal/or is de-identified. Including: “how you interact with the app” (these apps are aimed at stressed/anxious people), “your heart rates”, your “mental, physical and emotional status’…
- One privacy policy stated that they may enter into contracts with “mental health providers and health plans or health insurers, including, employer-sponsored health plans” and may collect and share information with their partners.
- Others share your activity on the app with Facebook and Google. Some when you log in with those providers, others just do it by default.
I really feel for those who rely on these apps, because I get it when you’re having to balance your health/affordable forms of care with long-term privacy risks. And their privacy information is hidden away in a policy that no-one else is boring enough to read. It’s not fair.
Most of these apps are paid apps, they have a means to sustain their business. The kind of functionality offered does not require people’s incredibly personal information to be shared anywhere outside of their own devices. There is no excuse.
Please, if anyone knows of a privacy-respecting mindfulness app, let me know! (I’ve no idea what I’m doing with the mindfulness stuff, but will endeavour to keep an open mind.)
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06 December 2019 17:49 UTC
Yes Facebook, I’d love to celebrate my friendship with my dead relative!!! Thanks for reminding me!!!
Fuck this hollow engagement-hungry surveillance capitalism.
…
I’ve covered this in many of my talks. I don’t interact on Facebook, I barely login, but I’m privileged that I don’t require it for community/work/family/my kids’ school.
Nowadays you don’t need to login, many sites/apps/shops send your info back to Facebook anyway. You needn’t join because Facebook has shadow profiles provided by your contacts.
We shouldn’t waste time, or distract from the cause of the problem, trying to shame or police people who are on Facebook. That ire should be directed at Facebook.
It should be aimed at regulating and limiting the harms of Facebook. And creating sustainable rights-respecting alternatives to the functions Facebook provides.
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06 December 2019 17:21 UTC
Another video of me speaking has gone up today! 8 Unbelievable Things You Never Knew About Tracking at ffconf. I felt really lucky to be invited to such a (deservedly) legendary event so tried to cover all the things I always want to say to other devs:
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06 December 2019 12:13 UTC
I’m really grateful for the work the Accessibility Scotland team put into their event and again in making the talks accessible online. I wrote this talk especially for the event, because these are the things that keep me awake at night.
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06 December 2019 10:25 UTC
Starting to dig into the digital copy of Inclusive Components while I eagerly await my print copy. It’s an absolute must-have for anyone building modern interfaces. Buy a copy for your office and thank me (well, thank Heydon Pickering) later 😊
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29 November 2019 13:48 UTC
Lovely little series (from last year) from the lovely Andy Bell. Featuring lots of pet photos, including my best, the one and only Oskar.
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28 November 2019 15:38 UTC
Can’t write anything without it turning into an overdramatic existential crisis. Is that redundant? Why am I even writing this? Who am I to write this? Whyyyyyy?
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19 November 2019 11:55 UTC
Got my postal vote polling card today 👍
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11 November 2019 15:41 UTC
If you were at ffconf on Friday and you missed the link to my slides. They’re on Notist. There’s also all the resources I referenced in my talk.