Microsoft is Privately Testing 'Bali,' a Way To Give Users Control of Data Collected About Them (zdnet.com)

Microsoft is working on a project codenamed "Bali," which is designed to give users control of data collected about them. The project is a Microsoft Research incubation effort and seems to be in private testing at this stage. From a report: I learned of the existence of Bali in a tweet from "Longhorn," which I saw via another Twitter user, "Walking Cat." Longhorn described Bali as "a project that can delete all your connection and account information (inverseprivacyproject)." I found a link to the Bali project page. That page allows those with a code to sign into the site and says those without a code can request one.

The "About" page for Bali describes it as a "new personal data bank which puts users in control of all data collected about them.... The bank will enable users to store all data (raw and inferred) generated by them. It will allow the user to visualize, manage, control, share and monetize the data."

Comments

Google already does this.....

[Puls4r]

Google purportedly gives you access to control a lot of your 'data' on their apps and websites. It only takes digging through hundreds of obscure settings and un-obvious control schemes, individual devices, and individual applications.

And even then you'll find that they add new "settings" without telling you and default them to the on position, so they're getting information you never even knew they were grabbing.

An opt-in system is the ONLY system that should be allowed, and not the EULA opt-in system. A system where you have to click every single checkbox for every bit of information they intend to collect.

Or you could just avoid all this and download my awesome Android Flashlight app. I swear it only turns your phone's LED on and off. Promise.