A Tool of Liberation
When speaking about tech, data sovereignty and privacy, it’s important to address the lens in which we see these topics through. In simpler terms, it’s necessary to tell you where we’re coming from. Our lens and value systems shape the way we not only see and understand concepts, but how we approach examining them as well. To reiterate a bit of who we are and our mission, Tercero Solutions is an Indigenous, Latine/x, and Woman-owned consultancy, on a mission to rematriate the economy by optimizing operations and technology for mission-aligned social enterprise and nonprofit organizations. Our core values include empathy, collaboration, courage, and authenticity to guide us in every step of our journey.
We believe that technology should be a tool of liberation, not surveillance. We also uphold the idea presented in Cansu Canca’s quote, “Technology exists to serve humanity, and its purpose should align with our most fundamental values.” It is for these reasons and beyond that we wholeheartedly support the fight for tech equity, to ensure that we all have fair access to and can benefit from technology. So what are our values as a people? It’s difficult to pinpoint a large collective’s values such as The United States, when they can vastly differ from city to city, state to state. In today’s society, our values are actively shifting along with the collective consciousness. But, one thing we can say without pause is that Americans, and humans in general, value our right to privacy.
Privacy > Surveillance
The fight for tech equity speaks directly to our right to privacy. Article 17 of the ICCPR prohibits, “arbitrary or unlawful” interference with the right to privacy. However, we see today with the advancements of technology such as artificial intelligence, it is getting easier and easier to illegally access your data. In other words, it has become easier to violate your rights. One growing example is the installation of ALPRs and Flock cameras all over the country. “Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs or LPRs) are AI-powered cameras that capture and analyze images of all passing vehicles, storing details like your car's location, date, and time.” (Source) You may be reading this right now having been unsure of what a “Flock camera” is. That is also by design. But here is some further context for you. “Flock Safety is one of the largest ALPR vendors in the United States. Their cameras are installed for police departments, businesses, and HOAs. Captured vehicle data is uploaded to Flock's cloud system, where participating agencies can search and share information across jurisdictions.” (Source) These decisions to install this technology have largely been made without your full knowledge and consent. Which is a direct violation of your right to privacy. Which is why we must stress how crucial it is that as technology continues to develop, that we are in continuous discussion about these technological advancements and what they ultimately mean for the people. In other words, we need to know how all this is affecting us. When these technological inventions contradict our values and inherently violate our rights, we must speak up in defense of our collective sovereignty.
Indigenous Sovereignty
So what is sovereignty? According to The Milwaukee Public Museum, “Sovereignty is the right of a nation or group of people to be self-governing.” For Indigenous and Native peoples, it is more than that simplified definition. To cite Running Strong for American Indian,
“It is the right to live as a people in ways that honor traditions, values, and knowledge passed down through generations. Sovereignty means making decisions for the well-being of the community without interference from outside forces. It is not something that was given to tribes—it is something they have always carried as nations that existed long before the United States.”
This fight for Indigenous Sovereignty is ongoing, even today. The strides towards the liberation of Indigenous peoples have made space for this conversation today, but it is not the finish line. Included in this conversation of sovereignty, it is imperative to include the subjects of data and privacy. Which brings us to the topic of Indigenous Data Sovereignty. Defined by Global Indigenous Data Alliance. (2022) , “Indigenous Data Sovereignty is the right of Indigenous peoples to govern the collection, ownership and application of their own data.” They further provide this helpful phrase and acronym “Be FAIR and CARE” that speaks to Indigenous data and governance. To put it simply, FAIR stands for the ways that data should be: findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. FAIR data speaks to the specifics of tech equity and how we should be able to interact with and create data. CARE stands for: collective benefit, authority to control, responsibility and ethics. The CARE acronym grounds us in an inclusive and respectful practice that places Indigenous peoples at the center. Today, within the active violations of our rights to privacy, BIPOC individuals remain central targets. We see this present with the ongoing hacking of BIPOC organizations and businesses, and even in the targeted attacks on immigrants across the country from ICE. When we organize and realize the power we have together, we can do more to fight injustice, technofascism, and protect our collective sovereignty. We can show up for our neighbors and for ourselves.
So how do we come together? You can look for organizations and collectives in your community that are talking about these issues. Or, if you notice that there is a void in your community you can build your own space and invite others to join you. The coalition MediaJustice has created an incredible toolkit you can download that can help you organize a People’s Movement Assembly in your area. Check it out and download their toolkit today. (Download here) You can also engage with the land. Learn from environmental justice activists and Indigenous communities. Indigenous People are stewards. Not just of the land we all inhabit, but of everything that can be created on these grounds. This extends to information, organizations, clientele, community, and so much more. Hire Indigenous people to help you build! Educate yourself on the land back movement.The fight for land back encompasses more than just a return of the land to its rightful owners. It serves our collective liberation as well. Honoring Indigenous sovereignty uplifts everyone by challenging oppressive systems and protecting la tierra madre (Mother Earth). We only get one of her. It is our job to protect her.
Key Takeaways
In addition to the aforementioned tools, here are some actionable steps you can take to protect your privacy on your devices:
Keep your devices updated. Many updates include an upgrade to security that can decrease your vulnerability to data attacks
Enable Apple’s Lockdown Mode in iOS. Once enabled, it prevents your phone from using features that are frequently exploited. This reduces your attack surface.
Enable Advanced Data Protection for iCloud. This action encrypts your iCloud data with a key that you control and Apple doesn’t. This prevents Apple from sharing your messages, photos and any data backed up to iCloud to the police, ICE or the FBI.
Enable Advanced Android Protection. This reduces your vulnerability to invasive spyware.
This month, as the weather continues to shift and the leaves begin to fall, it is a perfect time for reflection and education. Here are some further questions to ask yourself and the folks in your community: How are you engaging with the land you occupy? How do you understand the connection between digital privacy and sovereignty? What are the steps you are taking towards data sovereignty? As always, we’re here to discuss these topics with you. We are always engaging, applying, and growing in the ways we organize and interact with the community. This month is no different. We encourage you to keep blossoming alongside us.
