Big tech is watching (with Kade Crockford)

Data privacy is a critical civic issue requiring legislative action to curb the unchecked collection and monetization of personal information by tech corporations. Kade Crockford, Director of Technology and Justice Programs at the ACLU of Massachusetts, argues that the current surveillance model—where companies track users to sell advertisements or facilitate government targeting—is a policy choice rather than a technological necessity. Effective regulation must prioritize data minimization, strictly limiting collection to what is essential for service delivery, and implement a total ban on the sale of sensitive data like biometric information and precise geolocation. While current legislative efforts in Massachusetts aim to establish these protections, strong enforcement mechanisms, including a private right of action, remain essential to ensure compliance and protect individual liberty against the pervasive influence of the digital advertising industry.