Freeing Ourselves from Digital Surveillance
UnGAFAMyourLife!
In a connected world where everything moves too fast, we have lost our critical thinking skills.
Our dependence on proprietary services (Google, Apple, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft…) has robbed us of our ability to think and act in the face of these giants that have insinuated themselves into our lives.
This control is exercised not only through technology, but through the subtle engineering of our behaviors. The paradox is striking: the more tools we have that are supposed to liberate us, the more vulnerable we become. We believe we are choosing, when in fact our decisions are being manipulated, as demonstrated by the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where data was exploited to influence political choices on a massive scale.
The concentration of digital power in a few hands allows private interests to shape the lives of billions of individuals, who are completely powerless to act.
It is time to turn this powerlessness into a movement and to unite to reclaim our digital sovereignty.
Inform
We can’t fight what we don’t understand. The tech giants have figured that out!
These conferences shed light on the challenges and implications of digital technology.
Act
An interactive format where we work together to switch the service providers we use and relearn how to use our phones with services that are more ethical and respectful of our privacy.
Adapt
Personalized guidance on how to change your phone’s operating system and switch from conventional services to more ethical alternatives.
We are facing a conflict (dependence vs. necessity) that causes psychological numbness and makes us insensitive to the fact that we are being geolocated, analyzed, exploited, and manipulated.
This predisposes us to rationalize the situation with resigned cynicism. To invent excuses that function as defense mechanisms “I have nothing to hide” or to find other ways to bury our heads in the sand, choosing ignorance out of frustration and powerlessness.
Excerpt from “The Age of Surveillance Capitalism”
– Shoshana Zuboff
From understanding to taking action.
These workshops are designed for associations, collectives, university, local governments,
and businesses. I raise awareness about the use of alternative digital tools and explain why it is important to regain digital sovereignty.
Hands-on workshops to help you take back control of your data by switching to privacy-protecting services.
It’s not easy to completely “UnGAFAM” yourself, which is why I offer one-on-one support to help you switch services and operating systems.
Want to learn at your own pace? I’ve got everything you need! A 60-page guide to help you through the process, step by step.
Designed for schools serving students aged 12 to 25,
this program aims to raise awareness about more ethical use of digital technology
and the risks associated with proprietary services.
Testimonials
Switching services and using digital technology in an ethical way is cool—and not that complicated!
Joris has shown great enthusiasm in guiding me through the transition to new services. His creativity has enabled him to come up with real alternatives to the apps I used on a daily basis. His approach has led me to adopt a digital workflow that aligns with my values while meeting my needs.
Claire B.
For some time now, I’d been wanting to leave the GAFAM ecosystem. But fear, a lack of information, and the difficulty of finding alternatives kept me from doing so for a long time. Until Joris came along… With great enthusiasm, speed, expertise, and even a sense of humor, he guided me toward ethical solutions. For him, IT challenges are more of a challenge than a problem. I highly recommend Joris!
Maren H.
I’d been wanting to distance myself from the GAFAM companies for years, but my lack of tech skills was a major hurdle. With Joris’s help, I now have a Fairphone running e/OS, Linux on my computer, and even a more ethical email account.
Passionate and engaging, Joris knows how to make a subject interesting that hadn’t really caught my attention until now. He explains things in layman’s terms really well, which is invaluable for people like me who don’t understand a thing! Always available and patient when I have questions, he sparked my interest by explaining how the mindful use of new technologies can be beneficial and a source of connection.
Fanny J.
Conferences & workshops open to the public
25 March in Neuchâtel: Conférence au Conviviabule
On the topic: What if we used digital technology in a way that respects our values? (in French)
—29 March in Neuchâtel: Workshop « UnGAFAMyourLife » – Register here
—26 April in Neuchâtel: Workshop « UnGAFAMyourLife » – Register here
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