It's time to introduce PE licensing for the title of "software engineer". Like civil engineers, software engineers should be personally, civilly and criminally liable for the systems they sign off on. Reserve other titles, likE "software developer", for those who work under the engineer and do not assume liability.

Other measures, like data protection laws, will still be necessary. But introducing certification and liability like an actual profession would be a good start.

This will greatly diminish startup culture. Fine. I'd rather have a few responsible companies out there playing by the rules than a thousand wildcats for whom rules are an inconvenience.