The importance of data privacy

Today, the number of people using smartphones, smart watches, tablets, computers and other forms of personal computing is at its peak. Our society continues to integrate technology into every part of their lives; from sending messages and making phone calls, to transferring money from one account to another. While all of these things do make our lives easier, there is one aspect that is often overlooked by the end user, and that is how these services handle our data.

Nearly every single interaction on the web is tracked in one way or the other. Many apps also collect your name, contact details, addresses, financial information, current location, IP address, GPS coordinates, search history, purchase history, device model and more. Apps like WhatsApp have tried to introduce policies to read the user's personal messages and have failed due to public backlash; however they still continue to track app usage habits, including (but not limited to) what time you pick up your phone, and the details of people who you talk to.

All the data that gets collected from individual apps may seem trivial on its own, but apps cleverly use identifiers, IP addresses and other identification techniques to link all of this with a single profile. While some services may use this data solely for enhancing your usage experience, most apps use it for much more than that. Organizations may also sell your data to third parties in exchange for large amounts of money, and when all of your data from various sources gets combined into one powerful profile, this comprehensive profile can be exploited for targeted advertising, data analytics, and potentially invasive profiling, posing significant privacy risks to individuals.

Many people seem to question what could possibly be so valuable about their data, especially since it consists of seemingly mundane details of their digital lives. However, the value of user data lies in its collective power and its potential to provide insights, drive profits, and shape the digital landscape in various ways. In fact, in many cases, your device knows more about your habits than you do yourself. Your data can be used to target advertising to your interests, spending habits, spending power, and more in an attempt to tempt you to spending even more money. It can also be used to influence you in a way that is favourable to the organization; for example, in 2018, it was revealed that Cambridge Analytica had harvested the personal information of tens of millions of Facebook users without their consent, primarily through a third-party app. This data was then used to create targeted political advertising and messaging to influence voter behavior.

Some organizations may have other people actually looking through the data that has been collected about you, which is a huge breach of privacy. Your data could also end up in the wrong hands if the third party isn't as careful in terms of security with the data they have at hand, and this could lead to serious consequences such as data breaches, identity theft, financial losses, and the compromise of your personal or sensitive information.

This trade-off between convenience and privacy raises critical questions about the extent to which we are willing to compromise our personal information for the sake of free digital services. It is rightly said that "When you're not paying for a product, you are the product". While these services undoubtedly enhance our lives, we must remain vigilant about how our data is being used and whether our privacy rights are being respected.

Several regulations and frameworks have been introduced to enhance data protection and give individuals more control over their information. The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), for example, has set a global standard by requiring organizations to obtain explicit consent for data collection, provide clear privacy policies, and grant individuals the right to access, correct, and delete their data.

While regulations do exist, they may not always provide foolproof protection for your data. Consequently, it is crucial to recognize that your data holds significant value, and you should not allow organizations to evade accountability when it comes to collecting and profiting from it. You should be mindful of the apps you use and what data they collect, and seek more privacy friendly alternatives. It is also equally as important for developers to be respectful of their users' privacy.

Privacy is a fundamental human right, and you should be willing to raise your voice against those who seek to infringe upon or disregard this essential aspect of our personal autonomy and dignity. If we, as a society, collectively raise our voices against the pervasive data collection practices of today, we can pave the way for a future where the erosion of privacy is not as significant an issue as it is today.