10 consumer demands to digital services

17. mars, 2017

Here we present 10 contractual, privacy and security demands that the tech and communication industry should respect going forward.

In our research on apps, fitness wearables and toys and cloud storage services we have found that many digital services’ terms of service and practice challenge both consumer expectation and legislation on consumer rights, privacy and security.

Based on our findings, we present 10 contractual, privacy and security demands that the tech and communication industry should respect going forward.

Our demands correspond with basic principles of polite behaviour in our everyday life. If you visit my house, you don’t snoop. If you know my secrets, you don’t share them with everybody behind my back. If I want to leave, let me go. These are basic principles the industry should also respect when dealing with our personal data.

Also, many of these demands are already regulated in legislation in Europe, and with the General Data Protection Regulation coming to force in May 2018, this will be strengthened. Companies can be made liable and can risk fines up to 4 percent of global turnover, for certain data protection breaches.

Many consumers feel that they have lost control of their personal data. It is about time the tech and communication industry take responsibility. Not only will this make their users happier – it will also make them trust services more, which again will lead to a higher adoption of digital services in general.

1. Help me understand the rules
2. Don’t change the rules behind my back
3. Give me real choices
4. Don’t snoop
5. Don’t take liberties with my stuff
6. Don’t over-share
7. Let me move my stuff
8. Don’t evict me or my stuff for no reason
9. Let go of me
10. Don’t forget to lock the door