Data Is Power. Who Has It?

Let’s not sugarcoat it. In today’s world, if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.

I remember the first time I really thought about how much of myself I’d given away online. It wasn’t during a breach or after reading the fine print of a privacy policy — it was after a friend received ads for a product she had only spoken about near her phone. She laughed it off. I didn’t.

That moment felt like a glitch in the matrix. But the truth is far more systematic: our data isn’t just collected. It’s commodified. Traded. Bought. Sold. Used against us. Our lives — our thoughts, behaviors, DNA, and even our vulnerabilities — are up for sale. And most of the time, we don’t even realize it’s happening.

In 2025, it's clearer than ever: data is power. And that power is being hoarded.

Power Brokers: Who Profits from Your Data?

Governments and corporations have quietly — and now quite openly — built empires on the backs of our most sensitive information.

Let’s talk receipts:

Kennedy’s Autism Registry: Earlier this year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. proposed a national autism database that would collect private health data from labs, pharmacies, wearable devices, and more. The backlash was immediate. Advocates warned this could lead to profiling, discrimination, and increased surveillance of autistic individuals under the guise of "health research."

DOGE’s Social Security Grab: Elon Musk’s newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) sought access to Social Security data, claiming it would help detect fraud. The real risk? Creating a backdoor to millions of Americans’ identities. Thankfully, the courts stepped in. But the attempt showed just how far some are willing to go to centralize and exploit our most personal records.

23andMe’s Genetic Fallout: In a moment of “we told you so,” 23andMe suffered a massive data breach that exposed the genetic profiles of more than 6.9 million people. Now in bankruptcy court, the fate of that data — your literal DNA — is uncertain. Who owns it? Who profits from it?

Ray-Ban x Meta = Walking Surveillance: Meta updated its privacy policy for Ray-Ban smart glasses, allowing the company to train AI using images, audio, and interactions captured through the glasses. Imagine walking around with a surveillance camera on your face, and handing over the footage — for free.

‍But How Did We Get Here?

Our consent was never truly informed. Most of us didn’t get to weigh the risks. We were told that convenience was the cost of innovation.

“If you’re not doing anything wrong,” they said, “what do you have to hide?”

‍Here’s the truth: When systems of power decide what counts as 'wrong,' none of us are safe.

Communities that have long been surveilled — immigrants, activists, Black and Brown folks, queer and disabled communities — know this better than anyone. These are the same groups now being mined for data and given the fewest protections in return.

This isn’t just about targeted ads. It’s about autonomy. It’s about dignity. It’s about whether we get to decide who we are — or whether that’s decided for us by algorithms built to prioritize profit, not justice.

So What Would It Take to Shift Power Back to the People?

At Cyber Collective, we believe data is power — and that power should belong to the people. Reclaiming it starts with collective awareness, action, and education.

Here’s what it takes:

Know your rights: Understand what privacy protections exist in your state — and where they fall short. Knowledge is your first line of defense.
Push for stronger laws: Support policies that demand real, informed consent and hold companies accountable for misuse. No more hidden clauses or endless terms of service.
Use privacy-first tools: Encrypted messaging (Signal), anti-tracking browsers (Firefox, Brave), and extensions like Privacy Badger can help limit surveillance and data collection.
Ask questions — and talk about it: Don’t accept “free” apps at face value. If you’re not paying, your data probably is. Make digital safety a regular conversation with your community.
Demand radical transparency: We deserve to know who’s collecting our data, why, and what they’re doing with it — no more fine print or vague policies.
Fight for data sovereignty: You should control your data — the right to delete it, move it, or even benefit from it should be yours, not a company’s.
Invest in community education: That’s where we come in. Cyber Collective builds spaces to learn, organize, and act — because individual action matters, but collective power transforms systems.

We’re Not Helpless. We’re Building Power Together.

At Cyber Collective, we believe in reclaiming the digital world as a space for liberation, not exploitation. We believe in informed consent, digital self-defense, and building a future where your data isn’t currency — it’s yours.

So no, I don’t take data lightly anymore. And neither should you. Because data is power. And power belongs to the people.

‍Take our Internet Street Smarts course
Subscribe to our newsletter