Schaake warns readers tech companies may not have the same interest in protecting human rights and citizens' rights as governments may. She is hopeful but pragmatically skeptical tech companies will truly take responsibility for moving control of privacy back to users through several new initiatives like the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace or a Digital Geneva Convention.
There are plenty of reasons to worry about the privatization of governance. If we’ve learned anything from the scandal after scandal over Facebook Inc’s handling of user data, it is that the private sector’s noble intentions to regulate the internet should be met with skepticism. Without adequate public oversight of algorithms, and with recurring bad practices, tech platforms cannot — should not — be trusted.