[Idea validation] B2C wallet for 'data transactions'
The average internet user has 130 online accounts (Dashlane) and 79% of people are concerned about companies' use of their personal data (Pew Research Center).
That's a lot of accounts and even more personal data!
My idea is for an online record of 'personal data transactions' to help the data-conscious understand their digital footprint. This would include:
- capturing, recording and presenting back, in a user-friendly way, a breakdown of personal data shared - by time, company, data type, etc.
- alerts and notifications as to how that site might use your data (based on trackers installed on their site) before you submit your data
- advice on how to minimize your risk online and take back control of your data
- and perhaps (with help from the right people) a 'credit score-like metric' for your use of personal data online
Thanks for reading and I'd really appreciate any and all feedback - that's how we learn! There's a poll too if you'd prefer. Thanks again!
Do you see this as a browser extension? How are you going to hook into capturing the data that is shared?
Hey George - exactly, that's my current thinking, in a similar fashion to how password mgmt. tools capture data.
One problem is why should people trust you with having access to capture your data? Still could see it useful, especially for less tech savy people that you want to protect.
Slightly adjacent, it perhaps would be perhaps nice to warn the user if the site has a difficult return or cancellation policy. (E.g. if I subscribe to X will I be able to easily cancel?)
Trust will play a huge part. I've toyed with the idea of just capturing the data type and not the data itself but I reckon there's more value for the end-user in capturing both.
That's interesting. Along the same lines, I've thought about summarizing sites' T&Cs and presenting them back in a quick and easy to understand way before people submit their details or sign up. What do you think?
Yeah that would be valuable. Be interesting if you could classify the T&Cs and highlight any problematic terms.