Wouldn’t it be great if upon meeting someone we revealed the contents of our wallets? Not the money, but our really personal information like addresses, debit card numbers, and the like would be shared. Everyone could use that information whenever and for whatever suits their needs.
Instead of walking away knowing you just met a really neat person, you walk from them with their most intimate information. During the initial handshake you could tell them you have the right to access and share their information. You most likely wouldn’t have too many friends.
I was inspired to write about privacy issues when a Facebook app I created stopped working which forced me to go into settings. Within the settings is a list of apps I have given permission to install on my Facebook account. Each of them was collecting information in one form or another.
You know, I remember giving permission to each of the apps knowing they would gather information. Though much of it was contact information, I never had too much concern. It wasn’t until I saw twenty or so that I realized data collection and privacy may be a concern.
No matter where we venture on the net we all agree to allowing our data be mined at one time. Those wordy agreements that pop up right before we want to install that snazzy new software or some other kitsch piece of junk that seems to serve a purpose. Deep inside most of those agreements is some disclosure that the user’s data will be jeopardized.
I don’t mean to pick on Facebook because there’s many others that do it also. In fact, it’s not Facebook. In my case it’s all the greedy apps running in the background that were collecting information. I can think of a half dozen other utility pieces of software that are collecting and using my data on a regular basis.
One of my banks uses my information and makes a fortune off of me. My coffee club thingy from the giant donut chain collects information. And finally, my loyalty memberships for supermarkets, pet stores, and drug stores are all collecting statistics under the guise of ‘marketing strategies.’
Most of the time companies mine the data so they can compile information about their users’ demographics. Forty two year old single male has 143 Facebook friends, owns his own business, and enjoys romantic comedies. To most it wouldn’t matter, but to an advertiser it certainly would matter.
For the past two years I’ve been receiving “relevant advertising” from online dating sites, movies I wouldn’t watch in a million years, and unsecured lenders. I found it odd that I finally received an ad for something irrelevant to me until I realized that one of my friends who messages me frequently falls into the demographic the ad is targeting.
My experience on Facebook is fairly similar to many other places I’ve visited online. Disclaimers are everywhere and list a ton of things you’re allowing by clicking the OK or Accept button. Click it and you’re giving the software vendor or website owner authorization to use your information and potentially sell it to the highest bidder.
Unfortunately, many times there are no choices but to sell out and relinquish our rights to privacy. Many times, however, there are options or ways to save our souls. The first obvious answer is to simply not click to agree. If you can’t live without the app or website then the next logical choice is to not share more information than you’re comfortable sharing. Keep in mind, once your information is shared opting out is no longer a choice.
(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner. You can text him directly at (978) 413-2840 or visit www.LocalComputerWiz.com.)