useright

Useright is a proposed framework and set of norms intended to enshrine user rights in the design, deployment, and governance of digital services. The term combines “user” and “right,” and is used in debates about how people interact with software, platforms, and data.

Core elements of Useright include rights to access and understand data, to correct inaccuracies, to delete personal information, and to export data in portable formats. It also covers transparency about automated decisions, meaningful consent, and the ability to opt out of profiling and targeted advertising. The framework emphasizes user-friendly controls for data practices and clear explanations of how services use information.

Principles behind Useright emphasize consent, control, accountability, security, and accessibility. Services would be expected to provide clear explanations of data practices, durable controls over data collection and processing, and verifiable audits to verify compliance. The aim is to create a consistent baseline of user protections that can operate across different platforms and contexts.

History and adoption: The term arose in digital rights discussions during the early 2020s as a normative goal rather than a specific law. It is used to compare and evaluate policies and products, complementing existing regimes such as data protection regulations rather than replacing them.

Implementation challenges include varying legal frameworks, platform fragmentation, and the technical complexity of providing universal portability and explanations for algorithms. Proponents advocate interoperable standards, certification schemes, and governance mechanisms to balance innovation with user protection. Critics argue that Useright is aspirational and may lack enforcement without harmonized rules across jurisdictions. See also data portability, privacy by design, transparency in algorithmic decision-making, and data protection regulation.