Today, Access launched the Encrypt All the Things campaign to encourage widespread use of data security practices. The centerpiece of the campaign is the Data Security Action Plan of 2014 – 7 security-enhancing steps that companies can take in order to provide a minimum amount of protection to personal data.
The campaign will feature events and briefings thoughout the rest of the year aimed at increasing awareness of encryption and data protection resources. Twelve companies and organizations joined Access in support of the Data Security Action Plan, including Twitter, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and the Open Technology Institute.
The Data Security Action Plan can be viewed in full at www.encryptallthethings.net. From the website:
In the wake of the continued disclosures regarding government mass surveillance, the majority of the reform conversation has revolved around the need for increased transparency. However, many of these disclosures highlight the ease by which unauthorized actors can access large amounts of personal information without any judicial process or oversight.
It’s time to expand the public discourse about how to properly secure data and defend privacy.
Robust encryption is the next step toward protecting our networks and data from unauthorized surveillance. The Data Security Action Plan offers 7 security-enhancing steps that every internet platform should take to provide a minimum protections. These protections will help prevent unauthorized access, and move state actors toward using proper, legal channels to obtain personal information.
Access believes that companies should never collect more information than they require for business purposes, and should not provide information to governments outside of official legal channels. This campaign is designed specifically to prevent the unauthorized collection of information from private networks.