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ReclaimControl.Tech

RECLAIM CONTROL
over your digital life,
devices, services and data.

It's time to

Reclaim Control

We believe you have the right to control your data, devices, and services. We coordinate, develop and foster communities of Reclaimers who want digital independence. Together, we reclaim the right to a technical future of data sovereignty, digital autonomy, responsible governance, and collective care online for all.

Step By Step

Reclaiming Control Over ...

Our Devices

Our phones and tablets have become essential parts of everyday life. Protect yourself from greedy apps trying to collect your journeys, friends, photos and preferences. Learn how to adjust what you share and what you own, so you are in control. As you grow more confident in your skills you can adopt alternatives that ensure your privacy and security.

Our Connections

Social media companies mediate between our friends and family, collecting our relationships, our memories and stories, and our most personal thoughts. By choosing to communicate safely and securely, without a middleman, you can track birthdays and anniversaries and share your life's journeys, photos, and videos.

Our Messages

Stay in control of who sees and knows what about you. You can transfer precious files, photos, and conversations among your family and friends over private, secure connections. Prevent image theft and profile spoofing. You don't have to have your most intimate conversations in someone else's virtual living room!

Our Data

A vast data collecting system sniffs out everything you do online, captures and holds your data captive, selling access to the highest bidder. Ad blockers are not enough. You can spot the leaks, stay in control, and exert as much power over your data as possible if you keep it where you own it.

Our Homes

All the conveniences of a futuristic home, without cameras and open microphones spying on you! Learn how to swap your virtual assistant for systems that put you in the driver's seat. Avoid the data-stealing Internet of Things and administer your own Digital Homestead, where you are in control.

Our Services

With so many possibilities out there, it's hard to know which apps or systems to trust. Get behind the interface to appreciate how and why choices about economics and governance matter just as much as the color scheme to help you make the right technical choices to own your digital life.

Helping Each Other

Who are we?

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We are a growing grassroots movement, a non-profit seeking to help us all reclaim control over the technologies, devices, and services that dominate our lives.

We love technology. But today's tools are not delivering a faster, more efficient and reliable automated future; instead they trap us in products that can feel impossible to exit or change.

We believe it should be easier to leave the platforms that no longer serve us or our communities, our neighborhood businesses and our governments, to find replacements that do not compromise our connections and do so feeling empowered, not isolated!

We are building a community to connect each other with better technology, better systems, and more control as you make the transition to a different digital world, amid like-minded people seeking independence.

We don't want tools that exploit us, mine us, and prey on our weaknesses. Instead we embrace tools that support our strength, resilience, and power.

We know that a better digital future is possible, enjoyable, and just around the corner!

Resources

Get Started ...

Stop the Scroll to #ReclaimControl
Beginning on Independence Day and then on the first of every month, it's your day to try something different. Join our Stop the Scroll campaign to to Reclaim Control over your technological life, one day at a time.
Follow us on alternative social media
If you are on Mastodon or Bluesky, click to follow us there for tips and community Reclaimer events!
The Opt Out Project
Tech Reclaimers co-founder, Princeton Professor and long time 'opt out' advocate Janet Vertesi, refreshes your tech perspective and offers alternatives to everyday tools.
The 21 Day Cybercleanse
A step-by-step instructional guide, the "Cyber-Cleanse" offers 21 days to a new digital you!
Ensure your connections are encrypted
It's time to switch your chats over to Signal, for direct and encrypted conversations that will never be intercepted or read by governments or corporations.
De-Platform the Platforms
Do you want all your interactions recorded by a company to sell ads and feed their AI models? If not, check out these recommended replacements for this ubiquitous tech giant's services.
APPstinence
Started by a Harvard student, APPstinence.org helps Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha disentangle their lives from social media.
Big Trek from Big Tech
Per Axbom offers a list of alternative ideas for hosting blogs, photos, chat, email, notes and more, with many options all in one place.
The Framasoft Collaboration
The Framasoft collaboration in France offers alternative and ethical services from the Free Software community, instead of from giant companies.
The Future Is Federated
Italian filmmaker Elena Rossini reviews and demonstrates alternatives to centralized social media systems, walking you through step by step as you try out social platforms that are here to connect, not divide us.
Yael's Big Ass Data Broker Opt Out List
Journalist Yael Grauber maintains an incredible list of data brokerage systems. Working step by step, you can remove yourself from the data dragnet.
Lists of alternatives
These blog posts from Christian West, Willow Roberts, and Paul Bailey list usable, everyday alternative systems to substitute for your favorites.
Tech Critics
For inspiration, subscribe to informed tech critics The Opt Out Project, Joan Westenberg, Cory Doctorow, and danah boyd.

Find Your Why?

Everyone has a story. Here are a few that inspire us.

Join Us

We are building a network of conscientious objectors. Join our community to Reclaim Control!

Join the Reclaimers!

Follow us online!

We post Reclaiming tips and events on Mastodon and Bluesky to help you in your journey to a new digital you. Use #ReclaimTech to connect!

Join us on Mastodon!

Our Mastodon Bulletin is a good place to start for tips that help you reclaim your data and get you oriented on alternative social media.

Stop the Scroll!

On the first of the month, every month, join in #StopTheScroll to shift your habits in community with thousands of other looking to reclaim control.