As a reader of this newsletter, you know I am leery of Big Tech. I love technology and gadgets, but I am disturbed with the monopolistic atmosphere we have today and the unsettling harvesting of private data by companies like Facebook, Google and others. Some ask, “But why should I care? I am not doing anything illegal. They can track me all they want.” Facts like the following shared in this story on The Guardian website might be an eye-opener.
Google stores where you’ve been. Google knows everything you’ve searched and deleted. Google knows your location, gender, age, hobbies, career, interests, relationship status, weight and income. Google knows the apps you use. Google has your YouTube history. Google has your bookmarks, emails, contacts, Google Drive files, YouTube videos, photos you’ve taken on your phone, businesses you’ve bought from and products you’ve bought through Google. Google has data from your calendar, location history, music you listen to, books you’ve purchased, websites you’ve created, phones you’ve owned, and how many steps you walk in a day.
Google knows which events you attended and when. Google has access to your webcam and microphone. Google knows where you are, what applications you have installed, when you use them, what you use them for, your contacts, emails, calendar, call history, messages you send and receive, files you download, the games you play, your photos and videos, your music, your search history, your browsing history and information you deleted. Google has years’ worth of your photos and every email you sent. And you gave all of this to them.
But what about Facebook? Well, Facebook has every message you’ve ever sent or been sent, every file you’ve ever sent or been sent, all the contacts in your phone, and all the audio messages you’ve ever sent or been sent. Facebook stores what it thinks you might be interested in based off the things you’ve liked and what you and your friends talk about. Facebook stores every time you log in to Facebook, where you logged in from, what time, and from what device. Facebook stores all the applications you’ve ever had connected to your account. The list goes on. And, once again, you gave all of this to them.
I can’t think of another example of how we have willingly (albeit mostly unknowingly) forked over so much of our personal data — and the data of our friends and family — to companies only to have them then use that data, or sell it to others, for massive marketing purposes.
The solution is to push our elected officials to enact laws that will prevent companies from harvesting this kind of data. Just don’t hold your breath. Meanwhile, be sure to check out The Guardian story, as it also shows how you can see the amount of data that Big Tech has on you, as well as ways to prevent it from continuing to happen — or at least try.
Have a marvelous Monday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305 |
