On Data Ownership, Cloud Computing, and other Scare Tactics

Just read Richard Stallman's reaction to cloud computing here: Cloud Computing Is A Trap, Says Richard Stallman. Following shortly after Larry Ellison's rant against cloud computing, this made me think of the cloud computing opponents from the perspective of data ownership and/or privacy,which is what Stallman's position originates from.

Well, basically I think their position is untenable, because:

1. if we follow rms's proposal to stick to our local computers for all data processing, application usage, etc. then the whole Internet is useless; because we are leaving a "data trail" wherever we may roam online whether we like it or not. Not different from leaving a video trail as we browse through the brick and mortar aisles of say, Walmart. So this position is absurd, because by the same token, we should not use phones (in fact Stallman shunning cell phone usage personally for that same very reason), or any other technology since the Industrial Revolution (since really, the start of the use of data and statistics for demogrpahic purposes initially, but then expanded in all areas of life, started with the Industrial Revolution). So in other words, let's go back to the grotto.

2. The alternative is basically informational solipsism: stick to our own local version of the universe (read: computer), and own our own Internet. But wait! I am confused: then how does this go hand in hand with open source projects that are benefiting from Internet-enabled collaboration (e.g., Linux, Wikipedia, etc.)? This makes no sense. As many of rms's rants, they're more emotional than reasoned. Or maybe I am missing something.

3. There is nothing wrong with cloud computing, IMHO. No technology is "evil" per se, but only how it's used can potentially be (what are we, a bunch of luddites?). The fact that we leave a "data trail" behind us does not mean handing our data (is it really ours? more to come on this specific topic) to third parties, but it's an inexorable aspect/effect of the digital life. Can we do without? I don't think so. Here's a better alternative: own or co-own your own data (BYOD=bring your own data) as the Data Portability Project is doing (albeit with limited mass success mostly due to the lack of, and difficulty of a MASSive user/consumer advocacy campaign).

So, I will return to the aforementioned topics in the next posts because it's something i think passionately about myself, but here's something to have you "talk amongst yourselves" until I come back with more of my thoughts; I'll give you a topic:

A. How do we "take back" our data from those "evil" third parties? Answer please. And while you're at it, don't forget that it just so happens that the reason why it's so difficult, is that until the advent of the concept of Web 2.0 and 3.0, the data layer was ONE with the presentation layer, in other words, "our data" was glued to the channel/conduit in which it happened to appear/travel, etc. So, up until now, very difficult to "take it back". Now, not so much. More about this in my next posts, and a lot about these issues at the Web 3.0 Conference & Expo, October 16-17, Santa Clara, CA. Come see me there!