In what may be one of the greatest generational gaps of our time, I find it completely creepy that websites like Facebook and Google collect information about me and my life, and use it to sell me stuff. And my students don’t seem to care one tiny bit. Or they just don’t want to talk about it in class. I wish my desire for privacy was driven by a really cool secret life that I am trying to hide, but it isn’t. I simply don’t like the idea of strangers (or more accurately, strange computers) in a room somewhere deciding which ads to show me based on my online shopping that week.
At least a few people in California agree with me. A bill has been proposed in the California legislature that would require companies like Facebook and Google to disclose to users what personal information they are collecting, and with whom they share that information. The online companies are not happy, and are opposing the bill. The companies argue that the law is too broad and will create more litigation. Apparently the law would put California in alignment with Europe’s privacy laws, which require that online companies disclose what information they collect.
There is no doubt that the laws need an update. As the article mentions, the current law was targeting telemarketing, and was passed at a time where Facebook was just a glimmer in Zuckerman’s eye. But is this the best direction for the law to take? I am curious, does anyone in your generation care about online privacy?
8 Comments
Aisana Aitzhanova posted on April 10, 2013 at 11:15 am
I may not be speaking for everybody in my generation, but I truly don’t think that its interrogation of privacy or anything like that. Whatever informtion you put out there will be online forever including you background, preferences, etc. Moreover, I enjoy having ads that are relevant tio me based on my previous searches. You are going to get overwhelmed with online ads, banners, etc anyway. So, isn’t it better to look at something you actually might purchase? I do get your point though, Professor. It is a scary thought of how much those search engines and soial network sites knw about you.
B. Mante posted on April 10, 2013 at 1:01 pm
I completely agree! Although, I’m not sure whether my generation is apathetic, unaware, or both. Our mediums of communication have multiplied at a hastening pace, beyond the scope of regulation. Technology always moves faster than the law and the consequence of that is troubling.
“Would you be ok with advertisers flipping through the photo albums at your house? Then selling that info to better bombard you with “personalized” consumer suggestions? Probably not.”
Google filters through your emails and chats…really?! If those chats were letters, of course there would be an uproar. It’s funny how tangibility has changed consumer sentiment about privacy.
Not to mention, these companies are making millions off the content you post for free. It’s like throwing money at corporate America and being okay with it.
“Why can I be sued for copyright infringement if I use some random photo of a cat off of Google images but they can freely use my photos? Just another example of the “law” effectively serving only those who can pay for it.”
This whole issue of privacy is one of the reasons why I want to attend law school one day. And maybe because my lawyer fees will eventually break even with the tuition costs when I’m in federal prison for blasphemy against the government. For some unknown reason, I can never stay out of trouble, for too long…
Interesting nonprofit to explore:
https://www.eff.org/
B. Mante posted on April 10, 2013 at 1:05 pm
In addition:
http://lifehacker.com/5904966/why-you-should-care-about-and-defend-your-privacy
Rachael Shanker posted on April 11, 2013 at 3:46 pm
I have always been cautious to click “allow” when Facebook apps ask if they can use my information because I never knew what they would do with it. Yes, they are asking for my permission, but it’s pretty vague with what they do with it there after. I understand it helps with the next generation of digital marketing and allows companies to better reach their target market and see how their customers behave, but it is beginning to cross the line of internet privacy. The internet is probably the least private place these days (most people should understand that by now), but companies and sites should have a bit of an obligation to tell the consumer/user exactly what data will be used and for what purposes. NOt only for security purposes, but for integrity purposes too. If I have to have ads on the sides of my internet web browser, so be it, but I am beginning to question the integrity of google and Facebook when I realize that they have my information.
Andie Firestone posted on April 14, 2013 at 4:19 pm
I don’t think a law would necessarily solve the issue because the internet is probably one of the least private places to put any type of information. The level of accurateness of Facebook or Google ads on my sidebar are extremely creepy, and if that is occurring, it makes me question what else the internet does with your information. Will they begin to advertise your credit card number after making an online purchase? Maybe some type of law or regulation would be helpful to restrict where some of this information goes, but at the same time, it is hard to tell how useful that would be because the internet is so large and can be accessed so quickly and easily from anywhere in the world.
Yang Liu Steve posted on April 16, 2013 at 8:25 pm
Personally, I don’t think it’s going to work. Companies like Google or Amazon have to use the data collected from their customer to make money and then to keep their website running. As we know, most profit generated by Google is from advertisement. With out the data from the customer google will certainly not be the same as they are today. So, the question is that do people want their search engine, and the awesome complimentary service like YouTube? or they care more about their “search history”? This sounds pretty bad, but it’s true that even company like Amazon has a very hard time to make profit. As time goes, things might be different. But now, if the law says that those companies are not allow to collecting any data from their customers, those companies will be in a pretty compromised position.
Robin Wan posted on April 19, 2013 at 4:55 pm
I personally do not mind companies collect my information from social networking sites, because that is the primary way Google and Amazon make money. But these companies must definitely require users’ permissions and identify what they are doing with the information. Then, let the users to determine whether or not to provide information in return to use the service. I believe one thing legislations can help protect our personal information is to identify specific rules and penalties for violating these rules. A mutual trust between consumers and corporation must exist in order for this relationship to prosper.
Nicole Pellegrino posted on April 21, 2013 at 3:38 pm
I agree. It’s really unsettling to think that someone is tracking you’re every move on the computer. I do agree that privacy issues online need to be addressed. On the other hand, the law treats the internet as the least private place so can we be protected? Is it our fault that these websites are monitoring what we do? We could easily go out and shop or buy a book rather than doing these things online. It may be less convenient but we wouldn’t have people tracking us 24/7.