The Clean Data Pledge

We’re not reforming the surveillance economy. We’re replacing it with one built on human consent, verified truth, and fair compensation.

The Clean Data Pledge is open to:

• Corporations seeking to rebuild consumer trust.

• Universities aiming to protect student and research data.

• NGOs and institutions committed to ethical innovation.

• Developers, creators, and citizens who believe data should empower, not exploit.

The Five Principles of Clean Data

This pledge is not a certification of where you are; it’s a commitment to where you’re going. By signing, you’re affirming your intent to move your organization or personal practice toward these five principles of Clean Data:

1. Permission, Not Presumption

Data must only be collected and used with explicit, informed, and ongoing consent.
No hidden terms. No default opt-ins.

2. Transparency, Not Opacity

People deserve to know who uses their data, how, and why.
Every transaction should be visible, logged, and traceable.

3. Compensation, Not Tokenization

Each data use should generate fair value for the individual who created it.
Micro-payments and smart contracts make ethical participation scalable.

4. Anonymity, Not Exposure

No organization should profit from behaviorally identifiable information.
Clean Data is always de-identified, verified, and privacy-protected by design.

5. Recourse, Not Restriction

Individuals must have a voice — and a choice.
No arbitration clauses. No silence. True accountability for misuse.

Your Acknowledgment:

I

✍️ Sign the Clean Data Pledge

I understand that signing the Clean Data Pledge is not a certification of compliance, but a commitment to progress.
I pledge to uphold these principles in spirit and action, and to work toward building a cleaner, fairer data future. I will use the following to support the cause and message.

🎖️ Clean Data Pledge badge (for LinkedIn, email, or your website)

🧭 A short guide to begin implementing these principles

💬 The Clean Data Alliance substack community