[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"blog-slug_blog_3_1":3,"blog-slug_blog_content-jujutsu_1000_1":40},{"article":4,"articles":15,"meta":33,"languages":39},{"id":5,"title":6,"excerpt":7,"locale":8,"slug":9,"authorSlug":10,"automaticTranslated":11,"publishedAt":12,"updatedAt":13,"doFollowLinks":11,"showIndex":11,"showCallToActions":11,"articleType":14},3060,"The EU wants to kill cookie banners","The EU wants to end annoying cookie pop-ups by letting users set their consent once in their browser. If passed, websites will have to respect those choices.","en","the-eu-wants-to-kill-cookie-banners-by-moving-consent-to-your-browser","iron-brands",false,"2025-11-20T05:40:14.356Z","2025-11-20T06:13:15.812Z","blog",[4,16,26],{"id":17,"title":18,"excerpt":19,"locale":8,"slug":20,"authorSlug":10,"automaticTranslated":11,"publishedAt":21,"updatedAt":22,"ctaTitle":23,"ctaDescription":24,"doFollowLinks":11,"showIndex":25,"showCallToActions":11,"articleType":14},3019,"Google is tracking you (even when you use DuckDuckGo)","Google tracks users even on DuckDuckGo via Analytics and embeds. A new study shows how deep Google’s web tracking really goes.","google-is-tracking-you-even-when-you-use-duck-duck-go","2025-07-14T08:56:41.709Z","2025-07-14T11:26:01.386Z","If you care about privacy, you don't use Google Analytics","Ditch the tracking, keep the insights. Try Simple Analytics.",true,{"id":27,"title":28,"excerpt":29,"locale":8,"slug":30,"authorSlug":10,"automaticTranslated":11,"publishedAt":31,"updatedAt":32,"doFollowLinks":11,"showIndex":11,"showCallToActions":11,"articleType":14},3018," German court rules Meta’s tracking tech violates GDPR","German court rules Meta’s tracking tech violates GDPR, allowing lawsuits without proof of harm. Big risks ahead for sites using Meta pixels.","german-court-rules-meta-s-tracking-tech-violates-gdpr","2025-07-10T08:20:51.111Z","2025-07-10T12:16:26.327Z",{"pagination":34},{"page":35,"pageSize":36,"pageCount":37,"total":38},1,3,362,1084,{},{"article":41},{"contentHtml":42,"content":43,"coverImageWithoutText":44,"inlineMedia":49,"id":50,"title":51,"excerpt":52,"locale":8,"slug":53,"authorSlug":54,"automaticTranslated":11,"publishedAt":55,"updatedAt":56,"doFollowLinks":11,"showIndex":25,"showCallToActions":25,"articleType":14,"cover":44,"languages":57},"\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">In this series on privacy, you and I are discovering how the internet ended up in this privacy mess. This article explains the why and the how about the way organizations watch you.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Col class=\"counters\">\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"#3-privacy-tips-for-organizations-that-use-online-data\">3 privacy tips for organizations that use online data\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"#consent-jujutsu\">Consent Jujutsu\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003Col>\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"#lets-look-at-some-real-world-examples-of-how-we-agree\">Let’s look at some real-world examples of how we “agree”\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003C/li>\u003C/ol>\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"#we-will-go-gently-into-that-good-old-night-unless-we-change-things\">We will go gently into that good old night (unless we change things)\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"#data-hunger\">Data Hunger\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003Col>\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"#what-they-collect\">What they collect\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"#what-they-can-do-with-it\">What they can do with it\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"#why-this-matters\">Why this matters\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003C/li>\u003C/ol>\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"#ethics\">Ethics.\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"#data-dignity\">Data dignity\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"#3-tips-for-your-organization\">3 tips for your organization\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"#continue-reading\">Continue reading:\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003C/li>\u003C/ol>\u003CCtaOne />\u003CContentEditable  id=\"3-privacy-tips-for-organizations-that-use-online-data\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h2\" :articleId=\"317\">3 privacy tips for organizations that use online data\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-datahunger.jpg\" alt=\"alt:Data hunger\">\u003C/p>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">This article explains the why and the how about the way organizations watch you. The 3 tips are found at the bottom of this article (please scroll down if you want to skip the intro and research).\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">In this series on privacy, you and I are discovering how the internet ended up in this privacy mess. And how we can eventually get out of it (without blaming anyone).\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Inspired by sociologist, author, and researcher Gary Marx, I’m looking beyond the specific technologies, trends, and privacy scandals to understand the underlying social processes of privacy and data collection.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">This gives us the knowledge we need to further develop privacy-friendly and future-ready organizations people trust and gladly relate with.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">This article will delve into the world of privacy invaders: \u003Cstrong>Why do they watch us (or more strongly \u003Cem>invade our privacy\u003C/em>), and how do they do it?\u003C/strong> Whereas in the \u003CNuxtLink to=\"/\"  >previous article\u003C/NuxtLink>, we’ve uncovered some thoughts users have when they give away personal information to tech companies.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">You might think: “isn’t this world dangerously boring and meant only for legal privacy panthers with strong teeth?” 🐯 Short answer: it only appears to be. It reveals a lot about how privacy, humans, and power are related. So, long answer: for this article, \u003Cem>I’ve read some boring terms of use for you\u003C/em>, and this is what I found…\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  id=\"consent-jujutsu\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h2\" :articleId=\"317\">Consent Jujutsu\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-jujutsu.jpg\" alt=\"alt:Jujutsu\">\u003C/p>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Big brother is a busy brother. And he’s good at Jujutsu, I’ll explain. He’s watching you on the streets and in many buildings, he analyzes your urine in the sewage system, and he collects your likes, emails, and purchases on the internet. And according to Big B, you wilfully agreed to most of these things… \u003Cem>right?\u003C/em>\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  id=\"lets-look-at-some-real-world-examples-of-how-we-agree\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h3\" :articleId=\"317\">Let’s look at some real-world examples of how we “agree”\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">\u003Cem>Some of these examples are inspired by and can be found in Gary Marx’s book on surveillance, \u003Ca referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" href=\"https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/W/bo22228665.html?utm_source=simpleanalytics.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">“Windows into the soul.”\u003C/a> very good read if you want to learn more about the social aspects of privacy!\u003C/em>\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>The \u003Cstrong>supermarket building\u003C/strong> displays a message in the corner: \u003Cem>“In entering here, you have agreed to be filmed.”\u003C/em>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>The \u003Cstrong>insurance company\u003C/strong> that offers rewards or discounts for wearers of health-tracking devices: \u003Cem>“You do not have to send us any health data you aren’t comfortable with. The trade-off is you won’t get points for that.”\u003C/em>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>The \u003Cstrong>large tech corporation\u003C/strong> that owns, among others, a commonly-used search engine, video platform, and email provider: \u003Cem>“When you use our services, you’re trusting us with your information.”\u003C/em>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>The \u003Cstrong>personnel manager\u003C/strong> in a one-industry town in the US: \u003Cem>“We don’t require anyone to take a drug test, only those who choose to work here.”\u003C/em>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>A \u003Cstrong>phone company\u003C/strong> executive in defense of unblockable caller ID: \u003Cem>“When you choose to make a phone call, you are choosing to release your phone number.”\u003C/em>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">\u003Cem>Can you spot the similarities in these examples?\u003C/em>\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  id=\"we-will-go-gently-into-that-good-old-night-unless-we-change-things\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h2\" :articleId=\"317\">We will go gently into that good old night (unless we change things)\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">The examples above imply you’ve made a conscious choice, even if you didn’t. In Japanese, the word \u003Cem>Jujutsu\u003C/em> can be broken down into two parts. According to Wikipedia, \u003Cem>Ju\u003C/em> means something like "to be gentle", "to give way", "to yield", "to blend." And \u003Cem>Jutsu\u003C/em> means “the principle” or "the action.” So translated, Jujutsu means something like gentle action or to yield with principle.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">In similar ways to this old Japanese martial art, organizations focus \u003Cem>their\u003C/em> energy, efforts, desires, and actions on giving the consent \u003Cem>they\u003C/em> design. In other words, big brother can gently watch you without consequence because \u003Cem>he knows you need or want to do the activities he controls/owns\u003C/em>. He knows you will likely accept any terms if they seem harmless. He says you can “choose,” but in reality, that choice is mostly predetermined and almost impossible to avoid if you want to live a normal life.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Therefore, the action of "agreeing" is a rather unconscious act for most people, a natural byproduct of your normal and social behavior; the Jujutsu mastery of Big Brother.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-signhere.jpg\" alt=\"If you had to sign for every online policy, would you do it?\">\u003C/p>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">\u003Cem>According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of Consent is “to give assent or approval: agree.”\u003C/em>\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">In our reality: Consent is mostly a choiceless act we need to perform to continue with normal living in the current society. We would have to live our lives in off-grid caves, doing everything in our small powers to prevent organizations from collecting our data, but we’d probably have zero conveniences and luxuries modern society has to offer.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">When we better understand the mechanisms that invade our privacy, we can improve our organizations and pave the way forward to a privacy-friendly future without consent Jujutsu. But first...\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  id=\"data-hunger\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h2\" :articleId=\"317\">Data Hunger\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">I sometimes wonder why so many organizations hunt for my personal data like hungry animals (even willing to violate basic human rights like privacy), do you?\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Having said this, I believe it’s a good practice to first look at \u003Cem>yourself\u003C/em> before pointing fingers at others. So, I confess... I’m also data hungry (but a very different kind of data-hungry)\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">When I gather data about others in my personal life, I usually do this for simple reasons. For example, if I want to give a nice gift to a friend, my chances of finding a good gift improve if I can gather data about my friend. I can pay attention to what my friend says. I can observe my friend’s behavior. Or I can ask my friend some questions.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">You can probably think of many more common examples in which we gather data in our personal lives. Why? Well, gathering data with our senses help us live and improve our lives. It is a “two-way surveillance” practice: I can look at my friend, and my friend can look back at me. Simple.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-surveillancecamera.jpg\" alt=\"How many organizations are watching you?\">\u003C/p>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">It becomes \u003Cem>a lot more complex\u003C/em> when organizations observe us. Here are 4 differences:\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Col>\n\u003Cli>Organizations often observe many-to-one or many-to-many, and they do this covertly without giving you the chance to look back.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Their means of gathering data today are mostly technology-driven (this makes the game unequal for the individual that doesn’t have such technologies)\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Their goals and intentions don’t come from an individual but from a changing group of people.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>They often have databases but not always clear rules and boundaries about what they can do with that data.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ol>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">One thing these differences have in common is that they are \u003Cem>unequal.\u003C/em>\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">This is an important point to remember and to be honest about in your organization. Your clients, customers, visitors care about truth and being respectful. Therefore, here’s a list of points to consider:\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Which \u003Cem>unequal\u003C/em> observation methods does your website use? And why?\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>This is not the same as unethical: it can, for example, contain survey software that multiple people in your organization read, but it is important to be aware of it.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Are there things you currently collect but don’t need to collect?\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>What are the standards, codes, and data ethics your organization wants to convey?\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>How do you convey them?\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Answering these will give you more insight and clarity to create a truly privacy-friendly organization.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-athens-art-school-1143741_1920.jpg\" alt=\"Raphael painted the rebirth of Greek philosophy in the 16th century. Is it time for a rebirth of ethics in the 21st century?\">\u003C/p>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Unfortunately, not every organization cares to think like this. Sometimes it seems they want more data just for the sake of it. So…\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  id=\"why-oh-why-do-all-those-organizations-want-to-feast-on-my-personal-data\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h2\" :articleId=\"317\">\u003Cstrong>...Why oh why do all those organizations want to feast on my personal data?\u003C/strong>\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-squirl.jpg\" alt=\"alt:Feasting on your data\">\u003C/p>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\"></div>\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Every organization is different, and it’s beyond the scope of this article to look at all their reasons. So, although there are many more, let’s start by looking at one organization. This one serves as an example for us to show how to look at other organizations. Three key questions to keep in mind are always:\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Col>\n\u003Cli>What do they collect\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>What can they do with it\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Why does that mean\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ol>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Here’s an organization that does tell us what they will do with our data; \u003Cstrong>Google\u003C/strong>.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  id=\"what-they-collect\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h3\" :articleId=\"317\">What they collect\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Besides collecting your personal information, they collect the content you create, upload, or receive from others when using their services. “This includes things like emails you write and receive, photos and videos you save, docs and spreadsheets you create, and comments you make on YouTube videos.” (yes, this is directly quoted from their terms of use).\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  id=\"what-they-can-do-with-it\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h3\" :articleId=\"317\">What they can do with it\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Another quote: “This license allows Google to:\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>host, reproduce, distribute, communicate, and use your content — for example, to save your content on our systems and make it accessible from anywhere you go\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>publish, publicly perform, or publicly display your content, if you’ve made it visible to others\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>modify your content, such as reformatting or translating it\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>sublicense these rights to:\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>other users to allow the services to work as designed, such as enabling you to share photos with people you choose\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>our contractors who’ve signed agreements with us that are consistent with these terms, only for the limited purposes described in the \u003Ca referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" href=\"https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en&utm_source=simpleanalytics.com#toc-purpose\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Purpose\u003C/a> section below”\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">More bluntly, they can do whatever the heck they want with your personal information and outings anywhere on Google. \u003Cstrong>They are totally in control, and you are NOT.\u003C/strong> Unless you’re some high-level director or executive working at the company, you have zero influence over what Google does.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-googlepolicy.jpg\" alt=\"Google Policy\">\u003C/p>\n\u003CContentEditable  id=\"why-this-matters\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h3\" :articleId=\"317\">Why this matters\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">As of July 2021, the net worth of Google is estimated at around $320 billion. Google's parent company Alphabet has a net worth estimated at around $900 billion. That makes it one of the most valuable companies in the world.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">That value comes directly from our data being transformed by Google into products and services and sold to other (smaller) organizations. They win from two sides: they get virtually \u003Cstrong>free data\u003C/strong>, and other businesses transfer money to them to use \u003Cem>copies of that data.\u003C/em> (remember it’s digital, so they can make as many copies of it as they want, and therefore, they have an infinite supply that is constantly replenished for free)\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">This makes Google grow larger and larger and strengthens its power in the world. With this power, they can do whatever they want, like buying up competitors. (And a reminder from history: power can be abused without proper government and checks).\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">So, quick recap; here’s how Google turns your data into real-world power in 7 simple steps...\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Step 1: You use the internet and likely one of Google’s “services”\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Step 2: Google’s applies Consent Jujutsu\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Step 3: Google can use your data as they please.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Step 4: They sell copies of your data to those who would like it.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Step 5: Google gets more money.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Step 6: Google can use that money to buy competitors.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Step 7: Google gets more power.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Now what?\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  id=\"ethics\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h2\" :articleId=\"317\">Ethics.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Many people say a common thing at this point: "Let them look; I don't have anything to hide." It's understandable, but then you probably missed the point.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Because this point is not about you as a person, it is also not about friends who buy gifts for each other. They have fair and equal means to get information from each other. This point is about how organizations can spy on humans to exploit them. It's about giving and having an actual choice for privacy, protecting our human rights from organizations who want to violate these rights for profit.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-hidedesk.jpg\" alt=\"It would be best if you didn't have to do this.\">\u003C/p>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">The argument “let them look, I don’t have anything to hide” implies that if people cannot look at you, you \u003Cem>do\u003C/em> have something to hide… But isn’t this completely the \u003Cem>opposite\u003C/em> way of looking at the problem?\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">It blames the watched instead of the watcher.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">This clever shift of focus (shining light on the watched instead of the watcher) keeps the watcher out of the discussion. To put it more poetically: it lets big brother hide in the dark while he can focus an even brighter spotlight on his victims.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Gathering data about others is fine in a personal setting, like understanding your friends.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">But it becomes \u003Cem>unethical\u003C/em> when it checks these four boxes (especially the fourth):\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Col>\n\u003Cli>Personal data is collected by groups of people,\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>without asking,\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>with unequally better surveillance equipment,\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>and with the means to manipulate your data in their interest to become more powerful and possibly use it against you;\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ol>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">With more and more people becoming aware of this problem, there is a reasonable chance more regulations and oversight on data collection will take effect.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">So, how will we get out, and how can \u003Cem>YOU\u003C/em> be ready for this future?\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-privacyprotection.jpg\" alt=\"alt:Privacy Protection\">\u003C/p>\n\u003CContentEditable  id=\"data-dignity\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h2\" :articleId=\"317\">Data dignity\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">To pave the way to a privacy-friendly future without consent Jujutsu, we must have better \u003Cem>data dignity\u003C/em>.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">For quite some centuries, personal \u003Cstrong>dignity\u003C/strong> has been our right to be valued and respected for our own sake and treated ethically. I believe the same value must be recognized for every person’s data. When we apply the principle of dignity to our data, we can make a political and legal argument for better protection. Also, better punishment of those who abuse our data. (\u003Cem>It wouldn’t be the first time governments regulate the social norms and rights we value; many historical social movements created the laws we still cherish today.)\u003C/em>\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Organizations must show they have good \u003Cem>data manners\u003C/em> and are ready to deal with data properly in today's world. \u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>Here’s how...\u003C/em>\u003C/strong>\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  id=\"3-tips-for-your-organization\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h2\" :articleId=\"317\">3 tips for your organization\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Col>\n\u003Cli>Don’t collect data you don’t need. (If you use tools, try to use privacy-friendly tools)\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Ask nicely, give people a real choice and let them know what you will do with their data.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Give people the possibility to look back at your organization.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ol>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">Some of my readers here might think at this point: “but I can never do that" or "that doesn’t work in my organization.” Trust me, it does. It portrays honesty towards your relations. It shows you’re willing to share, and your organization is morally \u003Cem>good\u003C/em>.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-Simple-Analytics-screenshot.png\" alt=\"Public dashboard of simpleanalytics.com.\">\u003C/p>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">At \u003Cstrong>Simple Analytics\u003C/strong>, our mission is to give you the fastest, easiest, and most ethical insights about your website performance while upholding the highest privacy standards.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">To achieve this, Simple Analytics has an \u003CNuxtLink to=\"https://simpleanalytics.com/roadmap\"  referrerpolicy=\"unsafe-url\" rel=\"\">open roadmap\u003C/NuxtLink> for you to see the next steps or request features. Also, we operate \u003CNuxtLink to=\"https://simpleanalytics.com/open\"  referrerpolicy=\"unsafe-url\" rel=\"\">fully transparently\u003C/NuxtLink> by sharing our metrics (including revenue, costs, amount of customers, and traffic).\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">\u003Cem>If you enjoyed reading this article and you’re interested in learning more about privacy, consider subscribing to \u003Ca referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" href=\"https://theprivacynewsletter.com/?utm_source=simpleanalytics.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">the privacy newsletter.\u003C/a>\u003C/em>\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">\u003Cem>Every month we give you short, sweet, and insightful privacy summaries and help you stay in the know. Needless to say, our emails never track anything, ever. We want to spread the word and help more people become aware of the dangers of data exploitation. Also, we’ll suggest ethical solutions or other privacy-focused apps. You can subscribe for free at: \u003Ca referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" href=\"https://theprivacynewsletter.com/?utm_source=simpleanalytics.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">https://theprivacynewsletter.com\u003C/a>\u003C/em>\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  id=\"about-the-artworks-in-this-article\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h3\" :articleId=\"317\">\u003Cem>About the artworks in this article.\u003C/em>\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">The pictures in this article are stylized by an AI from \u003Ca referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" href=\"https://creator.nightcafe.studio/?utm_source=simpleanalytics.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">https://creator.nightcafe.studio\u003C/a>. The style input for these was the Renaissance painting \u003Cem>The School of Athens\u003C/em> by Raphael (1509 - 1511).\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\">The topic of Raphael’s original painting portrays ancient Greek philosophers. After the Middle Ages, Brunelleschi introduced a vanishing point, and with it painting with a “realistic” perspective became the dominant way of painting during the Renaissance. This was, at the time, a new way of looking at our world. The AI of nightcafe.studio missed the whole point of perspective, which was valued so much. The AI put a brown layer on all the images as the “style.” I found his painting a good metaphor for thinking through your findings and the way you represent data. Data isn’t “the truth,” only a way of representing our reality.\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-athens-art-school-1143741_1920.jpg\" alt=\"alt:Athens Art School\">\u003C/p>\n\u003CContentEditable  parent=\"\" tag=\"p\" :articleId=\"317\"></div>\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003CContentEditable  id=\"continue-reading\" parent=\"\" tag=\"h2\" :articleId=\"317\">Continue reading:\u003C/ContentEditable>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"/\"  >How we give away our privacy with common misbeliefs\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"/\"  >Why Floc is a Flop\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003CNuxtLink to=\"https://simpleanalytics.com/the-easy-answer\"  referrerpolicy=\"unsafe-url\" rel=\"\">The easy answer to hard questions about analytics and privacy\u003C/NuxtLink>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n","In this series on privacy, you and I are discovering how the internet ended up in this privacy mess. This article explains the why and the how about the way organizations watch you.\n\n## 3 privacy tips for organizations that use online data\n\n![alt:Data hunger](https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-datahunger.jpg)\n\nThis article explains the why and the how about the way organizations watch you. The 3 tips are found at the bottom of this article (please scroll down if you want to skip the intro and research).\n\nIn this series on privacy, you and I are discovering how the internet ended up in this privacy mess. And how we can eventually get out of it (without blaming anyone).\n\nInspired by sociologist, author, and researcher Gary Marx, I’m looking beyond the specific technologies, trends, and privacy scandals to understand the underlying social processes of privacy and data collection.\n\nThis gives us the knowledge we need to further develop privacy-friendly and future-ready organizations people trust and gladly relate with.\n\nThis article will delve into the world of privacy invaders: **Why do they watch us (or more strongly _invade our privacy_), and how do they do it?** Whereas in the [previous article](/blog/how-the-internet-ended-up-in-this-privacy-mess), we’ve uncovered some thoughts users have when they give away personal information to tech companies.\n\nYou might think: “isn’t this world dangerously boring and meant only for legal privacy panthers with strong teeth?” 🐯 Short answer: it only appears to be. It reveals a lot about how privacy, humans, and power are related. So, long answer: for this article, _I’ve read some boring terms of use for you_, and this is what I found…\n\n## Consent Jujutsu\n\n![alt:Jujutsu](https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-jujutsu.jpg)\n\nBig brother is a busy brother. And he’s good at Jujutsu, I’ll explain. He’s watching you on the streets and in many buildings, he analyzes your urine in the sewage system, and he collects your likes, emails, and purchases on the internet. And according to Big B, you wilfully agreed to most of these things… _right?_\n\n### Let’s look at some real-world examples of how we “agree”\n\n_Some of these examples are inspired by and can be found in Gary Marx’s book on surveillance, [“Windows into the soul.”](https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/W/bo22228665.html) very good read if you want to learn more about the social aspects of privacy!_\n\n- The **supermarket building** displays a message in the corner: _“In entering here, you have agreed to be filmed.”_\n- The **insurance company** that offers rewards or discounts for wearers of health-tracking devices: _“You do not have to send us any health data you aren’t comfortable with. The trade-off is you won’t get points for that.”_\n- The **large tech corporation** that owns, among others, a commonly-used search engine, video platform, and email provider: _“When you use our services, you’re trusting us with your information.”_\n- The **personnel manager** in a one-industry town in the US: _“We don’t require anyone to take a drug test, only those who choose to work here.”_\n- A **phone company** executive in defense of unblockable caller ID: _“When you choose to make a phone call, you are choosing to release your phone number.”_\n\n_Can you spot the similarities in these examples?_\n\n## We will go gently into that good old night (unless we change things)\n\nThe examples above imply you’ve made a conscious choice, even if you didn’t. In Japanese, the word _Jujutsu_ can be broken down into two parts. According to Wikipedia, _Ju_ means something like \"to be gentle\", \"to give way\", \"to yield\", \"to blend.\" And _Jutsu_ means “the principle” or \"the action.” So translated, Jujutsu means something like gentle action or to yield with principle.\n\nIn similar ways to this old Japanese martial art, organizations focus _their_ energy, efforts, desires, and actions on giving the consent _they_ design. In other words, big brother can gently watch you without consequence because _he knows you need or want to do the activities he controls/owns_. He knows you will likely accept any terms if they seem harmless. He says you can “choose,” but in reality, that choice is mostly predetermined and almost impossible to avoid if you want to live a normal life.\n\nTherefore, the action of \"agreeing\" is a rather unconscious act for most people, a natural byproduct of your normal and social behavior; the Jujutsu mastery of Big Brother.\n\n![If you had to sign for every online policy, would you do it?](https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-signhere.jpg)\n\n_According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of Consent is “to give assent or approval: agree.”_\n\nIn our reality: Consent is mostly a choiceless act we need to perform to continue with normal living in the current society. We would have to live our lives in off-grid caves, doing everything in our small powers to prevent organizations from collecting our data, but we’d probably have zero conveniences and luxuries modern society has to offer.\n\nWhen we better understand the mechanisms that invade our privacy, we can improve our organizations and pave the way forward to a privacy-friendly future without consent Jujutsu. But first...\n\n## Data Hunger\n\nI sometimes wonder why so many organizations hunt for my personal data like hungry animals (even willing to violate basic human rights like privacy), do you?\n\nHaving said this, I believe it’s a good practice to first look at _yourself_ before pointing fingers at others. So, I confess... I’m also data hungry (but a very different kind of data-hungry)\n\nWhen I gather data about others in my personal life, I usually do this for simple reasons. For example, if I want to give a nice gift to a friend, my chances of finding a good gift improve if I can gather data about my friend. I can pay attention to what my friend says. I can observe my friend’s behavior. Or I can ask my friend some questions.\n\nYou can probably think of many more common examples in which we gather data in our personal lives. Why? Well, gathering data with our senses help us live and improve our lives. It is a “two-way surveillance” practice: I can look at my friend, and my friend can look back at me. Simple.\n\n![How many organizations are watching you?](https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-surveillancecamera.jpg)\n\nIt becomes _a lot more complex_ when organizations observe us. Here are 4 differences:\n\n1. Organizations often observe many-to-one or many-to-many, and they do this covertly without giving you the chance to look back.\n2. Their means of gathering data today are mostly technology-driven (this makes the game unequal for the individual that doesn’t have such technologies)\n3. Their goals and intentions don’t come from an individual but from a changing group of people.\n4. They often have databases but not always clear rules and boundaries about what they can do with that data.\n\nOne thing these differences have in common is that they are _unequal._\n\nThis is an important point to remember and to be honest about in your organization. Your clients, customers, visitors care about truth and being respectful. Therefore, here’s a list of points to consider:\n\n- Which _unequal_ observation methods does your website use? And why?\n  - This is not the same as unethical: it can, for example, contain survey software that multiple people in your organization read, but it is important to be aware of it.\n- Are there things you currently collect but don’t need to collect?\n- What are the standards, codes, and data ethics your organization wants to convey?\n- How do you convey them?\n\nAnswering these will give you more insight and clarity to create a truly privacy-friendly organization.\n\n![Raphael painted the rebirth of Greek philosophy in the 16th century. Is it time for a rebirth of ethics in the 21st century?](https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-athens-art-school-1143741_1920.jpg)\n\nUnfortunately, not every organization cares to think like this. Sometimes it seems they want more data just for the sake of it. So…\n\n## **...Why oh why do all those organizations want to feast on my personal data?**\n\n![alt:Feasting on your data](https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-squirl.jpg)\n\n\u003C/div>\n\nEvery organization is different, and it’s beyond the scope of this article to look at all their reasons. So, although there are many more, let’s start by looking at one organization. This one serves as an example for us to show how to look at other organizations. Three key questions to keep in mind are always:\n\n1. What do they collect\n2. What can they do with it\n3. Why does that mean\n\nHere’s an organization that does tell us what they will do with our data; **Google**.\n\n### What they collect\n\nBesides collecting your personal information, they collect the content you create, upload, or receive from others when using their services. “This includes things like emails you write and receive, photos and videos you save, docs and spreadsheets you create, and comments you make on YouTube videos.” (yes, this is directly quoted from their terms of use).\n\n### What they can do with it\n\nAnother quote: “This license allows Google to:\n\n- host, reproduce, distribute, communicate, and use your content — for example, to save your content on our systems and make it accessible from anywhere you go\n- publish, publicly perform, or publicly display your content, if you’ve made it visible to others\n- modify your content, such as reformatting or translating it\n- sublicense these rights to:\n  - other users to allow the services to work as designed, such as enabling you to share photos with people you choose\n  - our contractors who’ve signed agreements with us that are consistent with these terms, only for the limited purposes described in the [Purpose](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en#toc-purpose) section below”\n\nMore bluntly, they can do whatever the heck they want with your personal information and outings anywhere on Google. **They are totally in control, and you are NOT.** Unless you’re some high-level director or executive working at the company, you have zero influence over what Google does.\n\n![Google Policy](https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-googlepolicy.jpg)\n\n### Why this matters\n\nAs of July 2021, the net worth of Google is estimated at around $320 billion. Google's parent company Alphabet has a net worth estimated at around $900 billion. That makes it one of the most valuable companies in the world.\n\nThat value comes directly from our data being transformed by Google into products and services and sold to other (smaller) organizations. They win from two sides: they get virtually **free data**, and other businesses transfer money to them to use _copies of that data._ (remember it’s digital, so they can make as many copies of it as they want, and therefore, they have an infinite supply that is constantly replenished for free)\n\nThis makes Google grow larger and larger and strengthens its power in the world. With this power, they can do whatever they want, like buying up competitors. (And a reminder from history: power can be abused without proper government and checks).\n\nSo, quick recap; here’s how Google turns your data into real-world power in 7 simple steps...\n\n- Step 1: You use the internet and likely one of Google’s “services”\n- Step 2: Google’s applies Consent Jujutsu\n- Step 3: Google can use your data as they please.\n- Step 4: They sell copies of your data to those who would like it.\n- Step 5: Google gets more money.\n- Step 6: Google can use that money to buy competitors.\n- Step 7: Google gets more power.\n\nNow what?\n\n## Ethics.\n\nMany people say a common thing at this point: \"Let them look; I don't have anything to hide.\" It's understandable, but then you probably missed the point.\n\nBecause this point is not about you as a person, it is also not about friends who buy gifts for each other. They have fair and equal means to get information from each other. This point is about how organizations can spy on humans to exploit them. It's about giving and having an actual choice for privacy, protecting our human rights from organizations who want to violate these rights for profit.\n\n![It would be best if you didn't have to do this.](https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-hidedesk.jpg)\n\nThe argument “let them look, I don’t have anything to hide” implies that if people cannot look at you, you _do_ have something to hide… But isn’t this completely the _opposite_ way of looking at the problem?\n\nIt blames the watched instead of the watcher.\n\nThis clever shift of focus (shining light on the watched instead of the watcher) keeps the watcher out of the discussion. To put it more poetically: it lets big brother hide in the dark while he can focus an even brighter spotlight on his victims.\n\nGathering data about others is fine in a personal setting, like understanding your friends.\n\nBut it becomes _unethical_ when it checks these four boxes (especially the fourth):\n\n1. Personal data is collected by groups of people,\n2. without asking,\n3. with unequally better surveillance equipment,\n4. and with the means to manipulate your data in their interest to become more powerful and possibly use it against you;\n\nWith more and more people becoming aware of this problem, there is a reasonable chance more regulations and oversight on data collection will take effect.\n\nSo, how will we get out, and how can _YOU_ be ready for this future?\n\n![alt:Privacy Protection](https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-privacyprotection.jpg)\n\n## Data dignity\n\nTo pave the way to a privacy-friendly future without consent Jujutsu, we must have better _data dignity_.\n\nFor quite some centuries, personal **dignity** has been our right to be valued and respected for our own sake and treated ethically. I believe the same value must be recognized for every person’s data. When we apply the principle of dignity to our data, we can make a political and legal argument for better protection. Also, better punishment of those who abuse our data. (_It wouldn’t be the first time governments regulate the social norms and rights we value; many historical social movements created the laws we still cherish today.)_\n\nOrganizations must show they have good _data manners_ and are ready to deal with data properly in today's world. **_Here’s how..._**\n\n## 3 tips for your organization\n\n1. Don’t collect data you don’t need. (If you use tools, try to use privacy-friendly tools)\n2. Ask nicely, give people a real choice and let them know what you will do with their data.\n3. Give people the possibility to look back at your organization.\n\nSome of my readers here might think at this point: “but I can never do that\" or \"that doesn’t work in my organization.” Trust me, it does. It portrays honesty towards your relations. It shows you’re willing to share, and your organization is morally _good_.\n\n![Public dashboard of simpleanalytics.com.](https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-Simple-Analytics-screenshot.png)\n\nAt **Simple Analytics**, our mission is to give you the fastest, easiest, and most ethical insights about your website performance while upholding the highest privacy standards.\n\nTo achieve this, Simple Analytics has an [open roadmap](https://simpleanalytics.com/roadmap) for you to see the next steps or request features. Also, we operate [fully transparently](https://simpleanalytics.com/open) by sharing our metrics (including revenue, costs, amount of customers, and traffic).\n\n_If you enjoyed reading this article and you’re interested in learning more about privacy, consider subscribing to [the privacy newsletter.](https://theprivacynewsletter.com)_\n\n_Every month we give you short, sweet, and insightful privacy summaries and help you stay in the know. Needless to say, our emails never track anything, ever. We want to spread the word and help more people become aware of the dangers of data exploitation. Also, we’ll suggest ethical solutions or other privacy-focused apps. You can subscribe for free at: [https://theprivacynewsletter.com](https://theprivacynewsletter.com)_\n\n### _About the artworks in this article._\n\nThe pictures in this article are stylized by an AI from [https://creator.nightcafe.studio](https://creator.nightcafe.studio). The style input for these was the Renaissance painting _The School of Athens_ by Raphael (1509 - 1511).\n\nThe topic of Raphael’s original painting portrays ancient Greek philosophers. After the Middle Ages, Brunelleschi introduced a vanishing point, and with it painting with a “realistic” perspective became the dominant way of painting during the Renaissance. This was, at the time, a new way of looking at our world. The AI of nightcafe.studio missed the whole point of perspective, which was valued so much. The AI put a brown layer on all the images as the “style.” I found his painting a good metaphor for thinking through your findings and the way you represent data. Data isn’t “the truth,” only a way of representing our reality.\n\n![alt:Athens Art School](https://assets.simpleanalytics.com/blog/github/2021-9article2-athens-art-school-1143741_1920.jpg)\n\n\u003C/div>\n\n## Continue reading:\n\n- [How we give away our privacy with common misbeliefs](/blog/how-the-internet-ended-up-in-this-privacy-mess)\n- [Why Floc is a Flop](/blog/floc-is-a-flop)\n- [The easy answer to hard questions about analytics and privacy](https://simpleanalytics.com/the-easy-answer)\n",{"alt":45,"caption":46,"small":47,"medium":-1,"large":-1,"original":48,"averageColorHex":-1,"isDark":11},"Datahunger.jpg",null,"https://cms-assets.simpleanalytics.com/small_datahunger_1e7438b35f.jpg","https://cms-assets.simpleanalytics.com/datahunger_1e7438b35f.jpg",{"data":46},317,"Consent Jujutsu & Data Hunger. Is Your Website Guilty?","In this series on privacy, you and I are discovering how the internet ended up in this privacy mess. This article explains the why and the how about the way organizations watch you.","content-jujutsu","tim-de-nood","2021-10-21T00:00:00.000Z","2023-08-15T13:02:47.686Z",{"en":58,"de":59,"fr":61,"it":63,"es":65,"nl":67},{"slug":53},{"slug":60},"zustimmungs-jujutsu-und-datenhunger-ist-ihre-website-schuldig",{"slug":62},"consent-jujutsu-and-data-hunger-votre-site-web-est-il-coupable",{"slug":64},"jujutsu-del-consenso-e-fame-di-dati-il-vostro-sito-web-e-colpevole",{"slug":66},"jujutsu-del-consentimiento-y-hambre-de-datos-es-culpable-su-sitio-web",{"slug":68},"toestemming-jujutsu-and-gegevenshonger-is-uw-website-schuldig"]