SOMI Newsletter - May 1st, 2022


This is the newsletter for May 2022 from the Foundation for Market Information Research to its relations, including the participants in its actions, its sympathizers, and app users. 

News

Update on our collective claim against TikTok

Due to a development of our collective claim against TikTok, in which two other foundations have also filed compensation claims against TikTok. The court has decided to give SOMI, Massaschade & Consument, and Take Back Your Privacy the opportunity to respond to the statement of the defendants by June 1st, 2022. More information

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Old DPE requests from SOMI app will no longer be processed

In the past month, we have switched our DPE requests service to a paid service. The basic service for using our app will remain free, but as of May 1st, we will stop processing data requests made before February 16th, 2022.

Since the launch of the SOMI app in October 2020, we have been able to offer all our services without any costs. However, the large number of data requests ("DPE requests") we have received makes it difficult for us to continue to deliver quality service for free and improve the functionalities of our app at the same time. 

What's going to happen?

As of May 1st, all the old DPE requests prior to our monetization update on February 16th, 2022, will be removed from our system. You can still access the results of your previous DPE requests on your personal dashboard on my.somi.nl. If you would like to proceed with your ongoing DPE requests, we kindly ask you to resubmit the request with the use of HT tokens.

HT tokens can now be purchased at my.somi.nl under "Packages" tab. You will also receive tokens from us for your actions in improving and expanding the app, such as for subscribing to our newsletter, inviting new app users or for posting a review on the Appstore or Play Store.

To introduce our new functionalities, SOMI offers all participants who registered with our foundation in the past year free tokens with an equivalent value of EUR 17,50.


Please reach out to campaign@somi.nl to receive your free HT Tokens. 


Best regards, 

SOMI 

All your data. All yours.

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Blog

If a service is free, then the users are the product

In 2019, the BBC launched an investigation into the safety of children on TikTok. The results were shocking. Over a period of 3 months, BBC collected hundreds of sexually explicit comments and messages uploaded by children and teenagers. TikTok stated that it is doing its best to prevent such texts or at least remove them from the platform as soon as possible.


Read more

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About SOMI

The Foundation for Market Information Research (SOMI) is a non-profit organization set up to identify and influence issues of social importance. 

SOMI is a recognized claims foundation in the field of privacy and data autonomy and is committed, among other things, to the protection of the fundamental rights of consumers and minors who use various online services. With the app that SOMI has developed, we want to restore ownership and control over personal data to all the people: All your data. all yours. 

SOMI investigates abuses, informs the public and helps injured parties. SOMI does this by conducting collective proceedings and claiming compensation. 

SOMI is currently investigating alleged GDPR violations by Facebook and TikTok.