Brittany Kaiser on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam July 2022. Top, Sorapol. Trouser, Paisley & Gray. Ring 1, Calista Jewelry. Ring 2, Rat Betty. Earrings, Calista Jewelry. Necklace, Own Your Data necklace by SHIANG. Heels, Charles David Shoes.
“Every day I’m inspired to make a positive impact in the world. I’ve always been a passionate activist working to solve the problems where I see the greatest opportunity to make a change,” Brittany Kaiser started her story.
She is an entrepreneur, activist, and globally recognized expert in data protection, technology, and legislative reform. She holds diplomas from the University of Edinburgh, the University of London Birkbeck College of Law and Middlesex University. She is also frequently a guest lecturer at Harvard, Oxford, and Columbia.
Blouse, Helen Anthony. Dress, Mia Bella Couture. Ring 1, Calista Jewelry. Ring 2, Rat Betty. Earrings, Andréanne Patry.
Brittany Kaiser, the human rights activist
She describes herself as a digital rights activist. Kaiser explained, “I work to make sure that individuals have more rights in the digital world, and therefore also pave the way for ethical technologies to be used to achieve goals in a faster and more sustainable way.”
She works across education, legislation, and technology development. On the education side, her non-profit, the Own Your Data Foundation, teaches and trains in digital literacy this includes: helping governments, corporations and individuals better understand their data rights, cyber security, media literacy, and other important indicators of digital intelligence. On the legislative side, she works on drafting and lobbying for new laws and regulations that help protect individual rights and empower the growth of ethical, emerging technology solutions. Since February of this year, Ms. Kaiser has been a pro bono advisor to the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and many of the top non-governmental agencies there to assist in the humanitarian crisis.
Dress, Pol’ Atteu Beverly Hills. Earrings, Andréanne Patry. Headpiece, Wasted Couture. Bracelet, Kasha Bali.
Technology is an opportunity to enhance impact initiatives
Since a very young age, Brittany Kaiser has been passionate about activism and social impact. She said, “I remember as a child always being raised by my parents and my teachers to do the most I can in my life to improve the lives of others… I saw technology as an opportunity to enhance all of my impact initiatives. I was first exposed to building tech when I joined the 2007-2008 Obama for President campaign’s New Media team. Many years later, I was writing my Ph.D. in human rights law, concentrating on crisis prevention. My doctoral research kept pointing me to data science and predictive analytics, so I joined a small data science startup to learn more. That company was called Cambridge Analytica.”
Brittany Kaiser, the whistleblower
The world still remembers how she testified against Cambridge Analytica, her former employer, and Facebook for their abuse of data. She told us, “Through the whistleblowing process, I became very clear about what I wanted to see as new laws and regulations, as well as the kinds of technologies and education that could prevent these abuses from happening again in the future.”
A lot of her current initiatives are using technology to help save lives and prevent genocide in Ukraine. She said, “I helped launch Aid For Ukraine, the largest humanitarian aid fund for Ukraine – all in cryptocurrencies. I have also co-founded the Ukraine Heritage Hub which is an ambitious project using all available technologies from drones to blockchain technology and metaverse platforms to preserve and rebuild Ukraine’s cultural heritage sites.”
Blouse, Helen Anthony. Dress, Mia Bella Couture. Blazer, Paisley and Gray. Ring 1, Calista Jewelry. Ring 2, Rat Betty. Earrings, Adréanne Patry.
The biggest threat women face in the era of digitization
Using her knowledge to enact change, Brittany Kaiser has helped write, advocate for, and pass over 30 laws in privacy, blockchain technology, and digital asset ownership. She is passionate about her cause, “Many people, especially women and youth, are targeted online. They still don’t believe that taking their data protection or privacy seriously is important. The biggest threat is how easy it is to stalk or target someone digitally or physically due to the amount of data that is taken from them and shared with so many companies without their explicit consent.”
“Most people do not realize that they are sharing their live location with tens of thousands of companies or more just by using some of the basic apps they have installed on their phones. Women and young people especially should be careful about who they give access to for their personal data, most importantly who they share their location with.”
“This threat is becoming easier to combat, but it still takes a lot of initiative on behalf of the individual as the tech companies that own the products we use every day certainly do not make it easy to protect ourselves. They do not have our best interests at heart while they optimize for profit. I am helping to change that, alongside so many global activists. However, it will take many more years before we see the global changes we need to protect ourselves more easily. In the meantime, it starts with personal initiative.”
Dress, Pol’ Atteu Beverly Hills. Earrings, Andréanne Patry.
Women should be actively running for important roles
The global activist said, “Throughout my career, I’m often the only woman in the room. That has benefited me immensely in getting certain opportunities. I feel that these days it’s easier for women to be recognized and awarded higher-level positions. So I recommend that all women looking to have influence in tech should make their voices heard. Reach out to people in organizations you want to be a part of and don’t stop until someone gives you the chance you deserve!”
Her thoughts on the current crypto crash
Regarding this hot topic, Harper’s Bazaar raised a question to her, “Would there still be a bright future for crypto investors?”
Ms. Kaiser answered thoughtfully, “I am a crypto industry activist. I have been in crypto full-time since becoming a whistleblower. Changes in price are not indicators of the resilience of advanced forms of encryption and smart contracts or other benefits of blockchain technology for data protection. Therefore, I don’t usually comment on them. Additionally, for someone like me who was given my first bitcoins in 2011, the prices today look incredible. Therefore it’s hard for me to see this crash as anything more than a ripple effect of a few poorly managed companies failing.”
“I expect the industry to recover relatively soon. The technology that underpins cryptocurrencies provides transparency, consent, tracking and traceability, ownership, and more. It is so innovative and essential to the future of ethical data infrastructure. No speculative pricing can shake such a fundamental and inherent good in the world.”
Blouse, Helen Anthony. Dress, Mia Bella Couture. Blazer, Paisley and Gray. Ring 1, Calista Jewelry. Ring 2, Rat Betty. Earrings, Adréanne Patry.
Netflix original documentary “The Great Hack”
Brittany Kaiser is also the main subject of the Netflix original documentary The Great Hack. This film has been nominated for an Emmy, BAFTA, and shortlisted for an Oscar.
She shared humbly, “I was so honored to become the main subject of the documentary. An incredible team from The Others production company and Netflix filming me for over nine months through my whistleblowing process.”
“Being a part of such an emotional and groundbreaking film is one of my greatest accomplishments. So many people around the world saw this film. It has changed the lives of many people for the better. I think The Great Hack was one of the most impactful films ever made. I continue to use that momentum for my work around the world.”
The daughter, sister, wife, and mother
While following the causes of her life, Britanny Kaiser is still a woman in its full meaning. She fondly talked about her family, “I have the most wonderful family. I count on my parents, my sister, my partner, and my son, as well as so many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. They inspire me to create a better world for everyone’s future. They all are incredibly supportive of my work. When I am not working, I am surrounded by so much love, so I do everything I can to make sure I can positively impact my inner circle, both family and friends who deserve everything I have to give.”
Muse: Brittany Kaiser @own.your.data
Producer: Gina K Park @ginakpark @art.coded
Photography: Reinhardt Kenneth @reinhardtkenneth
Videography: Jamie Jude @ballofeight
Tech: Juan Riviera @juandadon305
Fashion Stylist: Michelle Wu @michellewustyle
Hair & Make Up: Carisa Arellano @carisadoesitall
Lighting Director: Rielle Oase @really_rielle
Digitech: Leah Garcia @_leahgarcia
Photographer’s Assistant: Guimar Nava @deejaysteakdaddy
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
