Remember the old Irish tales of changelings? Faerie changelings and exchanging a healthy babe for a weakly one, abandoning families unwittingly rearing a changeling of the cryptids. We scoff, call it superstition. What if I were to tell you that the same transformational experience is happening today—in your bank account, or on your mobile phone. We’re all being bamboozled, people, and the pixie folk are Big Tech.
Sixty-seven percent of consumers experiencing illegal transactions? Those numbers are not mere statistics—they’re howls from the online wilderness. They’re the screams of your friends, neighbors, and family members, realizing one day that their life savings have been wiped out, their identity compromised. We unquestioningly place faith in that small bit of code that is delivered to our mobile devices, that great digital defense against the evils of the cyber underworld. It’s a specious redoubt, a cyber-Maginot Line easily crossed by even mildly clever miscreants.
We think we're getting security. We think these codes are protecting us. But Big Tech knows they're not. And they know the vulnerabilities are gaping, the holes big enough to drive a digital truck through. Are they incentivized to fix it? In truth, does the status quo — profitable security solutions, mountains of user data — really serve their interests? Or do they want to keep things exactly the same way?
Every time a breach occurs, what’s the answer? More security software. More complex passwords. Other “innovative” (and just as bad) forms of authentication, too. Who sells those solutions? Big Tech. They are responsible for the problem, then sell you the solution. Furthermore, it’s a genius, if extremely cynical, business model.
VIDA is trying to offer a solution. They’re a newer company in the digital security space, focused on improving online identity verification and fraud detection. They’re going one step further by collaborating with banks and other financial institutions on fighting AI-backed security threats. Is it enough? How can David ever kill Goliath when Goliath holds the monopoly on all the stones that David needs to defeat him.
We, the users, are complicit in this. We click "agree" without reading the terms. We choose convenience over security. We have an implicit confidence in the brands with which we first became familiar. We default to the belief that others are looking out for us.
It’s time to pull out of this digital hibernation. It’s time to quit taking things on faith and insist on a higher standard. Here's your battle plan:
The Indonesian government, through Kominfo, has been advocating for “AI sovereignty.” It’s more than hiring developers and data scientists to create fancy gizmos and algorithms. It’s an aspirational goal of a safe digital communications environment, safe from the malicious exploitation that has become rampant today. And it should be a global standard – a digital birthright for all.
Sovereignty isn't given; it's taken. It’s won through activism, through organizing, through a determination to not be treated as digital lambs to the slaughter. Let's start demanding the security we deserve. Let's start holding Big Tech accountable. Let's reclaim our digital identities before they're stolen and sold off to the highest bidder. The time for complacency is over. The digital fae are at the door. Don't let them in.
- The problem? It's your money on the line.
- The reality? No one is coming to save you.
Demand Better Security Now!
So, what can we do? We need to wake up from this digital slumber. We need to stop trusting blindly and start demanding better. Here's your battle plan:
- Ditch SMS OTP: Insist on stronger authentication methods from your banks and service providers. Push for biometric verification, hardware security keys, or other more secure options.
- Support Secure Companies: Favor companies like VIDA that prioritize security over convenience. Let your wallet do the talking.
- Contact Your Representatives: Demand stronger data protection laws and greater accountability for tech companies. Make your voice heard.
- Embrace Skepticism: Question everything. Don't blindly trust the promises of Big Tech. Do your research. Protect yourself.
AI Sovereignty: Our Digital Birthright
The Indonesian government, through Kominfo, is talking about "AI sovereignty." It's not just about building cool gadgets and algorithms. It's about creating a secure digital ecosystem, one where citizens are protected from exploitation and abuse. It should be a global standard – a digital birthright for everyone.
But sovereignty isn't given; it's taken. It's earned through vigilance, through action, through a refusal to be treated like digital sheep. Let's start demanding the security we deserve. Let's start holding Big Tech accountable. Let's reclaim our digital identities before they're stolen and sold off to the highest bidder. The time for complacency is over. The digital fae are at the door. Don't let them in.
