I had the chance to attend the legal Hack-a-thon in London, I joined developers, lawyers, policymakers, and academics as they were collaborating to build technology solutions to challenging legal and policy issues.
The event was attended by various code developers and lawyers that are working together to find a solution to the data privacy problem online. While lawyers help by giving statutes and reference, the developers are sitting down typing strings of code, to make their ideas tangible. The group I’ve been involved with most at this Hack-a-thon, is composed by developers from all over the world. They are trying to build a “Consent map”.This has been built on the privacy laws of different jurisdictions, and will challenge big companies in sorting their own and their customers privacy issues.
Another developing idea that got me interested, is the GeoCrunch. It’s a website which it’s objective is to create awareness on the issue of geolocation sharing around the web, mostly on social networks. This, by logging in, will show the geolocation shared by random users in a chronological order. Not something that we would want everyone to see.
The last project, is enormous. It was called the “Do Not Track”. This by technological means will enhance the consumers privacy protection when the individual walks in the shop or area, at the same time, it will give resources to the businesses and companies, to boots sales by bringing the costumers experience to a whole new level, this concept was defined as a ‘personalised experience’.
If you are interested and want to know more about the projects, in this video, each of the team presented their plan to judges:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99BZAgoqI0w
Each project was then judged. I had the chance to interview one of the judges, Wilfried De Wever. Wilfried is the Head of Innovating Justice Hub and an HiiL representative in Germany. The approach of his company, as described by Mr De Wever is: “Our approach is based on what is needed in a given context, within a given timeframe and with the available resources. We assist by providing data, a better understanding of challenges, a shared vision and strategy, and expertise about what is likely to work. We make innovation processes that our clients need to meet the challenges they face, possible.”
This fits perfectly the issue of data privacy, where a drastic solution that can work in the short run is needed.
The winner was then announced. In first place, the “Consent Map”, in second place, the GeoCrunch and in last place, the “Do Not Track”.
BY: Rocco Limongelli
