Disagree with “I Agree”. Enforcing better data privacy through the language of documentation

Description

The new privacy regulations that came into force in 2018 (GDPR in the EU, Data Protection Act in the UK, the USA data privacy laws following suit) are not just about the software and data collection/protection. The “privacy by design” principles mean that every aspect of software — including with documentation — needs to be in line with the message of handling the users’ data with great care.

We, as technical writers, can enforce the matters of better data privacy through the language and visuals in the documentation portals and live sandboxes. Which means better security. And which means clear and explicit consent forms, human language in privacy policies, and buttons that do something the user actually understands. Language is powerful. It is a tool that we can and should use it to make the world a safer place.

The talk addresses the aspects and elements of software documentation that should and be reconsidered and restyled in the light of new privacy policy regulations.

  • Conference: Write the Docs PRAGUE
  • Year: 2019

About the speaker

Karen Sawrey