Terms of Service for Learning? Who Owns YOUR Learning Data? Elliott CES Report
January 7, 2020 
TO: Learning TRENDS
FROM: Elliott Masie, The MASIE Center
DATE: January 7, 2020 - Note #3 from CES
RE: TOS - Terms of Service! Who Owns Your/My Learning Data?
TOS is a term that has been vibrating in my head for the last 24 hours, here at CES in Las Vegas. TOS is the Terms of Service agreement that we all consent to in almost every technology product, but rarely read and almost never remember.
TOS usually has a paragraph about Data Ownership. Your TOS for Facebook actually gives them significant access to your photographs that are used to build an extensive image and facial recognition database. Your car’s GPS has data on your driving habits, destinations, and even driving errors - but is there a TOS for the data, if it is connected to a cloud and they could share it with other companies - including insurance agencies.
What about a TOS for Learning and Learning Systems?
When YOU (or any employee) take an online learning module, what is the Learning Terms of Service (TOS)? If YOU take an class on statistics, the learning system COULD collect information on your interests, your content skills, your learning gaps or weaknesses. Can they use or even sell that data to other companies?
Let’s develop a simple-to-read, graphically easy Learning TOS that would accurately show learners the ownership and data rights they have (or do not have) before they start a learning program. If you would be interested in thinking about a global Learning TOS, send me a note to emasie@masie.com
If you have ANY questions or read/watch reports from CES and have questions or something cool that we should visit, send a note to me at emasie@masie.com.
Elliott Masie.
The MASIE Center & Learning CONSORTIUM
emasie@masie.com
Note: Curation & Learning LAB will be held in Saratoga Springs, from February 4th to 6th. Spaces are limited. Details at http://www.masie.com