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Vision​



Vision

What we see

In our interconnected world, the digital landscape holds immense potential to shape our societies. However, we are unimpressed. This potential is being compromised by serious power abuses and irresponsible decisions that threaten freedoms, rights, and the very fabric of democracy.

 01 / Human Rights vs. Innovation: A False Dichotomy02 / Towards Sustainability03 / State Monitoring and Accountability04 / Monopolies, Behavioral Extractivism, and Digital Colonialism

 01 / Human Rights vs. Innovation: A False Dichotomy

Human rights are often portrayed as obstacles to innovation. This narrative fuels a race to the bottom, where basic rights are sacrificed on the altar of technological advancement and productivity that destroys ecosystems. We reject this false dichotomy. True innovation should enhance human dignity and freedom, not undermine them. It is time to refuse the self-fulfilling prophecies of monopolies. We want innovation that respects our rights and needs as human beings, not fights them. Freedom is not a threat, it is an opportunity.

02 / Towards Sustainability

Our current societal trajectory is unsustainable, as digital technologies often exacerbate environmental degradation and resource depletion. The lack of a coherent transition towards sustainable economies is a critical issue. We advocate for a digital economy that prioritises environmental stewardship and social responsibility, ensuring that technological progress does not come at the expense of our planet and future generations. 

03 / State Monitoring and Accountability

Government surveillance has reached levels where parents peacefully protesting for the right to clean water are portrayed as terrorists. Journalists are repressed by authorities and sued in Europe. Mechanisms for holding state powers accountable have not kept pace. The lack of transparency and oversight in state monitoring erodes public trust. It undermines the democratic values upon which our societies are built. We advocate for a mature and responsible approach to state intelligence management, where accountability is not an afterthought but a fundamental pillar.

04 / Monopolies, Behavioral Extractivism, and Digital Colonialism

The dominance of a handful of corporations has resulted in monopolistic control over essential digital services, where users are no longer just consumers — they are the product. Our behaviors, preferences and emotions are harvested to master our subconscious. In order to make profits. Zuboff's surveillance capitalism theory builds on behavioral extractivism. We have the right to a private life. We demand to be free to choose when we are happy to help a project improve by learning about us.


On a global scale, big tech monopolies extend their model to all parts of the world. This gives rise to digital colonialism, where they meet communities with the lowest agency. The rise of artificial intelligence is the pinnacle of this phenomenon, with struggling communities in Africa being tricked into cheap traumatic jobs. Poorer countries cannot be testing grounds for the development of new or highly risky technology, such as biometrics. This new form of domination not only exploits individuals but also undermines the sovereignty and dignity of entire communities.

We are committed to promoting a digital space where rights are respected, choice is preserved, hope for environment grows, and seeds of an inclusive global digital order are planted.

Our vision

We want an internet free from digital arm races and monopolies. 
We refuse a digital world where unrestricted surveillance is a business model. We won’t live in an environment where NGOs, companies and citizens are left technically vulnerable or cannot exercise their basic rights. We cannot remain at the mercy of a few to access information. Individuals, communities, businesses, NGOs and critical infrastructures must have access to cybersecurity and human rights safeguards.

We want to emancipate creativity and self-determination from the vanity of restless search of influence and power over resources. Another internet model is possible - a model where citizens and organisations understand data rights and how their data is processed.

We want to protect the ability to improve everyone's lives, while fostering accountability, respect of others and the environment.

Let's weave a web of thriving resilient diversity. 

Our purpose

Data Rights' purpose is to:
  • Promote and defend users' rights (both individuals and businesses) over their data, and their freedom to control the technology surrounding them;
  • Strengthen and defend fundamental rights and freedoms in the digital era, including the right to the respect of people's privacy, home and communications, the right to personal data protection, the right to security in using hardware and software, the freedoms of information, expression and assembly, the freedom to create and innovate (and their related rights), the freedom to conduct a business, and the rights to effective remedy and to a fair trial. 

The use of digital technology by a specific actor in a way that bears disproportionate or unacceptable risks, or harms individuals, is therefore covered by our purpose.

In doing so, Data Rights raises awareness and upholds cultural and intellectual diversity, freedom of thought and conscience, as well as respect for fundamental environmental rights.

The fulfillment of the present purpose is for the public benefit and the general interest. In all its activities Data Rights enjoys total independence from any other entity, be it public or private. 

Means of action

In short, Data Rights defends, enforces, and advances data rights through strategic litigation and legal solutions. We strive to advocate for solutions, in a spirit of constructiveness and expertise.

To be more specific, Data Rights aims at realising its purpose as follows:
  • Advocate, represent and defend, everywhere and before any forum, notably the courts, the economic rights as well as pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests of the organisation's Members, as well as users' (whether individual users or organisations) of information technology. 
  • Foster and defend, before government, courts, supervisory authorities and any institution, consumer protection, data protection, and free and fair competition, including through litigation and lodging complaints. 
  • Educate, raise awareness of, conduct research about, and provide educational material regarding threats to personal data protection and cybersecurity;
  • Monitor and report about surveillance methods and tactics employed against individuals, groups, organisations and businesses;
  • Work at local, national, regional and international levels towards the provision of strong and effective privacy and cybersecurity rights, as well as future-proof means to safeguard them;
  • Monitor the nature, effectiveness and extent of measures to protect privacy and cybersecurity, and seek ways through information technology to efficiently protect information;
  • Promote solutions that have a lower impact on the environment, more specifically, solutions improving energy consumption, hardware used or needed, and recycling of hardware.

Where?

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We are looking at the whole European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK)!

We are extremely lucky to build on the shoulders of giants. Several decades of regulatory harmonisation across the EU (and the UK) make it possible for us to know most digital rights and duties throughout the EU. This is an unprecedented opportunity to help individuals and projects from multiple countries. It also makes it possible for us to engage in the country where it is the most strategic. Importantly, a growing body of EU laws apply outside of the EU too. We are keen to explore these aspects, primarily to prevent data colonialism. As humanists, we want to be proud of how the European Union is perceived internationally.

Our values

 
Diversity

 
Ecology

 
Empowerment

Our programmes

Our programmes guide us on our journey. To learn about our five programs, click here!