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Contributed article by Rafael Laguna, CEO, Open-Xchange

2015: The Year Users Demand a Trusted Internet

In 2014, the Internet turned 25 years old. In the last quarter of a decade it has advanced considerably, taking on a form that very few could have imagined. But has it matured?

The past 18 months have been a pivotal time in the development and future of the Internet. Since Edward Snowden corroborated our data privacy fears, the Internet has been ousted as a secretive, fickle and treacherous environment. As a result, the volume and focus of discussions on the topic have been astounding. Yet here we are, a year and a half later and still no closer to resolving the issues raised.

I've had countless conversations in which people express their worry about the data being collected on them, and rightly so! Some of those people have even gone so far as to stop using certain online services and apps, as well as closing accounts down completely. With more and more people demanding a more trustworthy environment to take part in their social networking, digital communication and other Internet activities, 2015 will be the year that users finally take a stand against the Internet. Unfair and ambiguous terms of service and business practices will simply go away.

As a starting point, in December 2014, Open-Xchange commissioned research which identified the point at which people believe the benefits no longer outweigh the risks and therefore switch off from a particular online service. The reasons for wanting to quit are varied, but they all link back to a failure of the big Internet companies to properly communicate with people exactly what is happening to their data in a clear and transparent manner.

In 2015, services need to evolve with people in mind, rather than the people following services aimlessly. Internet companies have a responsibility to be open and honest with the people that have grown to depend on the amenities they offer. In parallel, users will grow to expect more transparency from their Internet services and will see the value of a more open and respectful environment.

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About the Author

A co-founder of OX, Rafael Laguna was chairman of the board until 2008 when he became CEO. Under his guidance, OX extended its product offerings into SaaS and established the indirect distribution model through Cloud service providers.

With more than 25 year’s experience, Laguna has a proven track record of success in building and growing software companies. He was crucial to the investment and the successful sale of SUSE Linux to Novell in 2004 and managed as chairman the turnaround of Bäurer AG and its subsequent takeover by Sage in 2006. Passionate about the open source movement, Laguna acts in an advisory role for the Open Source Business Foundation.