The immense growth in technology and online social media, marketing, and communication tools has led to the proliferation of privacy problems and issues. One only has to access an individual's Facebook or MySpace profile to learn both the most common and clandestine details about him or her and unfortunately, with other online tools and products, such as search engines, online billing, and retailer websites, the amount of information mass conglomerates have gathered about consumers and individuals is both disturbing and irritating. To combat the online privacy issues, the Federal Trade Commission just recently advocated a plan that will allow consumers to decide whether they would like their Internet browsing and buying habits to be monitored. The report recommends having "reasonable" measures for promoting data accuracy, "reasonable" access for consumers to the data collected about them, and most importantly, an option that would allow consumers to "opt-out" of tracking and data collection. Implementation of this new plan would have serious implications for both consumers and online advertising companies, namely Google, Apple, Yahoo!, and Microsoft amongst others. Online advertising and data collection companies stand to get seriously hurt if consumers are granted the option to opt out of their data collection and tracking mechanisms.
And as for consumers and business, what defines "reasonable" varies substantially. The mere thought of Google allowing access to a meager 10% of the data it has collected about me is a long-shot and highly implausible. Notably, Microsoft took measures into its own hands and announced that "it is going to add a "Do Not Track" feature to its Internet Explorer 9.0 release, so that users will have the option of preventing cookies on their browser from tracking what websites they visit." Microsoft's move to implement this sort of feature is quite clever; by implementing this feature before any serious legislation is passed making such options mandatory, Microsoft is making itself look like the "good guy" and setting an industry standard that others will quickly follow. It’s a bold move in an attempt to protect them against the potential stringent privacy regulation that the FTC might implement. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see other online giants following Microsoft's witty step.
The FTC's step towards implementing a plan to combat the comprising of personal data online is a good one, but will it really work? What if online companies take their own personal steps to show they are willing to abide by such legislation only to deter lawmakers from making it compulsory? The growing online privacy debate has sparked numerous comments and concern from consumers and companies alike. Consumers need to much more vigilant and cautious about the content that they post online and make available for the entire world to see and many consumers are still careless about their privacy and personal information while browsing online. Any photos, postings, and personal information can be quickly and easily permanently stored by complete strangers and even sent to remote locations anywhere in the world. Even with the FTC's proposed plan and "do not track" options, many individuals will continue to remain naïve and allow everyone to know everything about them. Hopefully, the FTC's plan can put an end to online privacy breaches and simultaneously prevent future online privacy problems from surfacing.
I agree with you Summia that the FTC’s steps to combat the problem of online personal data are well thought but in the same time I’m not sure about their concrete applicability and control. Data in my opinion are the gasoline of Internet, they are the new currency of the digital world and without it any online business will be over; so how companies and authorities can control something that, if completely, banned will sign the end of the rich world where both (private and government) has big part of their earnings? The question is really tricky if we consider that recently, really concerned about the data protection and privacy rights of their customers, also Facebook, after a period with a lot of complaint received from both the parts concerned (government and users), in the person of his inventor Mark Zuckemberg has decided to open his door to the privacy issue with new functions that will allow a deep control and care of the personal Facebook user’s data. That is just an example, but the really question is: are the companies (like Facebook as mentioned) really interested in this problem or this is one of those actions due just with the scope to pacify for some times upset customers?
ReplyDeleteLorenzo
We tend to pass most of our current social problems to the government; I understand that we do this hoping that a fair solution would be found. For me, the situation regarding all of our information being used without our concern, it’s a matter of education. I think that an increase in the regulation for internet firms would only make them less competitive. In addition most of the time people find “legal” ways to get to their final means, so more regulations won’t prevent this kind of felony for a long time.
ReplyDeleteIf the FTC gets involved into this matter, I think, it would be better to develop education and information systems for internet users, allowing people to understand by themselves the dangers of using specific types of media. And I know most of us are not system engineers, or lack technical knowledge to develop firewalls and others, but sure enough we can make decisions on what is the risk we want to take if proper information is provided to us. In the Internet, people don’t have guns, so for me, we should learn to defend ourselves, from ever changing technology that is trying to get our things illegally.
I agree. In fact i believe most of the internet users don't even know that they are constantly being invaded with "cookies" that track down their internet habits. The law has to be specific because "reasonable" is very vague term and it can be easily misinterpreted by internet companies. Moreover I believe that Microsoft move is very smart, not only to be seen as the good guy, but also that doing so is hurts directly Google’s advertising business, Microsoft’s direct competitor.
ReplyDeleteAmazing Blog Summia, you are always very critical and to the point.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I have a different take on this.
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