The Power of Big Tech

The influence of big tech companies on our lives is undeniable. With limited oversight and a focus on maximizing profits, these corporations have become increasingly powerful. They rely on unrestricted access to our personal data to maximize profits, which puts them at odds with any form of regulation. They actively seek to shape policies that protect their lucrative revenue streams, and resist regulatory measures that could limit their power.

Without accountability, big tech companies put profits ahead of our privacy. They leave us vulnerable to misinformation and bias, and contribute to the shaping and manipulation of public opinion. As the digital world continues to develop, we’re likely to see more attempts to deregulate to protect their bottom lines.

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Is Your Email Safe? Why Storing Data in the U.S. is Becoming Riskier

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In today’s digital world, protecting our personal data has never been more crucial. With governments, corporations, and hackers all vying for access to our information, it’s important to understand where our data is being stored and who has access to it. Certain countries, such as the United States, have become a concerning destination for data, with its extensive surveillance infrastructure and lack of robust privacy protections.

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Protecting Your Privacy – The Runbox Commitment

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. The need for data privacy and the ability to communicate freely has never been more critical. Both individuals and businesses rely on secure online communication to safeguard sensitive information, especially as surveillance technologies continue to monitor and exploit digital interactions. At Runbox, we believe that privacy is more than just a feature; it is the core value that guides our service and our operations. Located in Norway, we are deeply committed to user privacy, which is supported by the country’s strong legal framework. Here, we explore why our location is vital for your privacy protection and how it aligns with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

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Runbox: The Sustainable Choice for Secure Email Services

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At Runbox, we believe in a world where our digital communications can have a positive impact on the environment. Our mission is to reduce energy consumption and minimize our ecological footprint, both as an organization and as individuals. We believe that every action, including sending an email, should contribute to a sustainable future. By choosing Runbox, you’re not just using a secure email service – you’re making a conscious choice to support sustainable practices and contribute to the protection of the planet.

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The FTC’s Report on Big Tech’s Personal Data Overreach: What You Need to Know

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released a report exposing how Big Tech companies are overstepping privacy boundaries in their quest for user data. The report reveals the massive amount of personal information these companies collect, store, and profit from. Often, this is done without clear user consent or transparency. As concerns over data privacy grow, the report highlights the urgent need for stronger regulation and more responsible data practices.

In this blog post, we’ll break down the key findings of the FTC’s report and discuss how this overreach affects your privacy, along with what actions you can take to protect your data.

Key Findings of the FTC’s Report on Big Tech’s Data Practices

The FTC’s report, titled “A Look Behind the Screens: Examining the Data Practices of Social Media and Video Streaming Services” offers an in-depth look at how major technology companies, including Facebook (Meta), Google, Amazon, and others, are handling your personal data. Below are some of the major findings:

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Runbox is not on Meta or X (Twitter) – Because Privacy Matters

Social media platforms like Meta (Facebook, Instagram) and X (Twitter) are huge parts of our online lives. They’re where we catch up with friends, get our news, and share ideas. But while these platforms bring us together in a lot of ways, they also come with big problems—especially when it comes to privacy and misinformation. For a company like Runbox, being part of these platforms just doesn’t make sense. Here’s why.

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EU’s AI Act: What it is all about

From the perspective of the general public and society as a whole, so-called Artificial Intelligence (AI) was largely invisible until OpenAI removed the veil over GPT-3.5/ChatGPT in 2022.

Since then, the interest and use of AI, and General Purpose AI (GPAI), has exploded. AI implementations are creeping in everywhere, to great benefit in many respects. However, the warning signs are many — manipulated images, fabricated conversations, falsified news stories, and fake video-presented events can lead to unforeseeable negative consequences, for instance in influencing democratic elections.

This is also the case when AI is used to make decisions, since we know that there is always a risk of “AI hallucinations” where AI software produces incorrect or misleading information.

This simplified outline can serve as background for the EU’s AI Act, whose purpose is to put a societal control over the use and influence of AI/GPAI in particular, and the big tech companies in general.

So let’s dig into the matter, with the aim to describe what EU AI Act is, and to clarify its consequences, if any, for Runbox.

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