I say, (while out of range of the camera), “I’d like to opt out of the biometric scan, please.” I also opt out my kid if they’re with me.

I rarely get a blink. (There are signs saying you’re allowed to opt out.) Though I wonder if/how that will change with RealID! I didn’t get one because as of right now you can still use your passport, but I know they want everyone to have one.

ETA I have a whole section on this in the free book DISENGAGE: Opting Out—and Finding New Options—to Reclaim Your Life from Spammers, Scammers, Intrusive Marketers and Big Tech.

I didn’t notice that, but I DO know you can opt out of those scans. I do it every time. I was told by one security agent that they don’t store the images, but that doesn’t mean they won’t do so in the future! Also, during their beta, biometric data of many passengers was exposed through a breach.

I see from the company’s privacy page that people in “protected” states can have their data removed, but I assume that’s only data used for advertising/marketing…not data collected/shared for the purpose of tossing you out of the country. Anyone know if there’s a way to exclude yourself from this database? (I doubt it since they’re saying it’s for legal purposes, but you never know.)

Haha, I always love a good infographic! Who can I credit for the infographic and links? I have only like 65 subscribers since I don’t do much promotion, but I think this will be very helpful to them.

I love this! May I share on my blog and with my newsletter subscribers at Punching Up Press? We’re probably in boxes #2 and #3, with a lot of readers starting off in box #1.

Thank you! I got your email, will reply soon.

I emailed you, but wanted to reply here that I love this! I don’t have much to add as I’m having the same problem with my own project trying to make privacy easier for people like, say, my friends and family. They have to really WANT it to go through all those inconvenient steps of changing to alternative products. Even getting people invested in changing their app settings is hard enough!

I think the below commenter is right that people will start to care more when they see what’s going to happen with their data under the new administration (in the U.S., at least). We all thought it was a good trade-off for free and cheap products, and soon we may be faced with our data being used to target us personally.

The only thing I can think of is, have you tried sending info about your sites to relevant news outlets, newsletters, etc.? I got a little traction from being mentioned in two newsletters: Cory Doctorow’s newsletter and the DeleteMe newsletter Incognito. I’m planning on mailing out print press copies of my free book later in May…I have a PR friend who will be helping me with that.

Oh, very cool! Yes, do reach out if you decide to do it.

Hi! I finally got the EPUB onto the site as a direct download.

Thanks! I can’t imagine even explaining to my mom what an instance is, much less how to use one. Maybe the situation will change when more and more people start joining these sites. But I will list SearXNG on the links page!

ETA: I thought you meant how do I like the Proton mailbox@! :D

I like it. The only issue for me is that the search is slow, but that’s because they have to compile all your data first…as opposed to Gmail, which already and always has access.

Another plus of Proton Mail is their masked email app. When I go to a site that asks me to enter an email, the app can create a masked email for me on the fly.

Wow, these seems to be controversy over a lot of privacy-based alternatives! I already added OM to the infographic but am happy to replace it (until the new fork is ready) with a different easy-to-use U.S., privacy-forward map.

Mapy Interesting! I can’t get it to give me directions from one (U.S. residence to another), but I’ll keep an eye on it.

I think I’m all set now,…but I will check this out and potentially add it to the website links page!

Ooh, good question! It looks like Nextcloud has a tasks app. I can’t fit every product on the infographic, but may add this to the links website page.

What’s your language? Would the products.links still make sense to readers of this new version?

In any case, it’s fine with me as long as you’re not making. monetary profit from the poster. Also, will you please share a copy I can add to my website?

Also, I made a poster of a similar infographic I created several years ago when I owned a content studio…I forgot all about that and think I may do it for the English version as well! I can sell it at cost. A friend also suggested I turn it into a mouse pad.

Thanks!

OK, I’m glad it’s not just me. :D

Maybe after this!

Hmm…Peertube was so easy for me to search and use—I think a lot of people wouldn’t even know it’s decentralized—but the SearXNG website is much more complicated. I’m looking for non-Google products that are easy for the average, non-tech person. Think SearXNG would work?