When Free Isn’t Free: The Human Cost of ‘Pay or Okay’
Workshop
Living Room
Thursday 22.05 — 14:15 - 15:30
Organising Institution
EDRi European Digital Rights
Europe
The rise of 'Consent or Pay' models—where users must either consent to data collection or pay for privacy—has sparked debates on fairness, choice, and digital rights. But beyond legal arguments and corporate justifications, how does this model shape the daily lives of those with the least power to negotiate? From gig workers and students to marginalised communities and grassroots collectives, many are forced into unfair choices with little say in the rules that govern their digital lives.
This highly interactive session shifts the focus away from industry and policy insiders to those most affected. Through critical role-play and collaborative discussions, participants will step into real-world scenarios, exploring how ‘Pay or Okay’ deepens inequalities and imagining alternative models that go beyond this false binary. No panels, no lectures—just fresh perspectives, creative problem-solving, and a rethinking of what meaningful consent could and should look like.
Itxaso Domínguez de Olazábal, PhD, is a policy advisor at European Digital Rights (EDRi) and an expert in data protection and privacy, with a focus on commercial surveillance and the multidimensional virtual harms caused by online tracking. She also specialises in online freedom of expression, examining the role of security forces in content governance.