MyOrb: Is Your TV Listening to You? So What?

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MyOrb

29 Nov, 2016, 16:39 GMT

LONDON, November 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

#Stop2084 

A new campaign, #Stop2084, a reference to George Orwell's 1984, has been launched by 'anti-social network' MyOrb, to help people take back control of their privacy.  

Most of us realise that using a loyalty card gives the store valuable personal data, which they can then sell on to others. But did you know that your smart TV (even on standby) and your phone can listen to you, and that companies can sell that data? Personal information is being sold for billions of pounds and almost none of that money comes back to you.  

The recently passed Investigatory Powers Bill (aka 'Snooper's Charter') gives the British Government more surveillance powers than any other western democracy. Orwell's 1984 has truly arrived. Even Donald Trump now has access to your data!  

But why does it matter if you've got nothing to hide? Won't that just mean better targeted advertisements and a safer world? Why should you care?

  1. You're losing money. Shouldn't you be the one making money from your data, if anyone? Yes, that is now possible.
  2. Your data is out of your control. You have no control over the interpretation that is put on your data, and organisations may get it wrong. This could affect your insurance premiums or even getting a job - but unlike your credit score, you can't see it and challenge it. If, for example, you pay for business drinks on a regular basis, you may be labelled an alcoholic. And the granular level of data now being collected is truly shocking. In the US, retailers have even been known to target maternity products at a woman before she learned that she was pregnant!
  3. Your data could be used against you. We can no longer assume that we will always have a stable, democratic government. The far right is gaining supporters across Europe. Strong surveillance powers are an invaluable tool for extremist governments to control people.

#Stop2084 wants to give you back your power - and your data. It's a legal, fun and proactive campaign against others making money from your personal information. The idea is to carry out some simple hacks to destroy the value of your data.

The campaign was created by myOrb. Their concern, about the lack of privacy, led them to set up a new platform that allows you to store all your documents, web links and communications privately. MyOrb argues that the only person who should benefit from your data is you. So if you use MyOrb but you're happy to sell your data, you can, but you will be the one who gets paid for it. 

To stop 2084 looking like Orwell's 1984, and to take part in the data hacks go to https://stop2084.com. To take your data somewhere private go to http://www.myorb.com  

For further information, please contact: 

Anne Cantelo 
anne@onyxcomms.com  
T: +44(0)207-248-2700  

SOURCE MyOrb