We’re heading into San Francisco’s big “security week” with the Security B-sides unconference on Sunday (tickets), the RSA Conference starting Monday, and our Personal Cloud Community evening on Tuesday night (tickets). I’ll be at RSA and pcloudsf and maybe b-sides (if I can get a ticket).
Security is a very specific lens through which to look at personal data. Security subculture behavioral norms prize heroic protection of the innocent; warriors battling for God, Queen, and Country; stalwarts defending civilization from barbarians. And these communities have strong backing from governments, enterprises protecting themselves, and the industry that arms professionals. Personal clouds holding data and apps under personal control isn’t on their radar, much.
I’m afraid it will be, soon. Too soon. Is our the ecosystem ready for the attention? We’re still starting, finding our feet and our friends. Those who might oppose personal control – like law enforcement officers who find it easier to get data from cloud providers than from a computer in your home – could use their power to raise roadblocks or destroy your company. Kim Dotcom‘s Megaupload scandal comes to mind.
How do formulate a policy and political strategy to assert that personal control over personal digital resources is a right, not a privilege? Where do you start?
If you’re in the Bay Area this week, I’d love to chat about personal cloud law, public policy, and strategies under current law. My mobile is +1-510-290-0073 and I’m phil at pdec dot org.
Meanwhile, I’ll leave you with Lessig on “Aaron’s Laws – Law and Justice in a Digital Age”. Powerful rhetoric. His talk starts at 08:55.
About Phil Wolff