Navigating Online Privacy with Permission Slip: A Column on Digital Data Protection

Headline: New App “Permission Slip” Helps Users Take Control of Their Online Data Privacy

In a world where online privacy is becoming increasingly complex and important, a new app called Permission Slip is empowering users to take control of their personal data. Launched by Consumer Reports in 2022, Permission Slip acts as a digital privacy assistant, allowing users to manage and protect their online information with ease.

The app functions like a dating app for digital privacy, presenting users with a deck of cards representing companies that may be storing, using, and selling their data. Users can swipe through the cards, view summaries of the data collected by each company, and choose how they want Permission Slip to assist them. Whether it’s requesting a company to stop selling their data, delete their information, or delete their account altogether, Permission Slip takes over and handles the process on behalf of the user.

While users do need to provide some personal data to Permission Slip for identity verification purposes, the app helps navigate the often complex process of asserting privacy rights. By leveraging existing privacy laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act, Permission Slip empowers users to exercise their rights and protect their data from misuse.

With the increasing challenges of online privacy and data security, Permission Slip offers a user-friendly solution for individuals to safeguard their information and take control of their digital footprint. As Washington Post tech columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler notes, “the onus falls on us as consumers to defend ourselves, to take action.” Permission Slip makes taking action as easy as swiping on a dating app, setting users up for a more secure online future.