The Hidden Trap - How tech companies deceive people to get more personal data
There is no secret in the statement that we the people are getting cheated by tech companies to give our personal details. Accessing their service, most of us are simply signing the ‘user agreements.’ Without even reading it. Actually, these agreements are deceptively drafted by the high-profile lawyers. These selfish lawyers don’t have any kind moral responsibility or social obligation except thinking about their share of ‘flesh.’
Just look at a small portion of the terms and conditions of a dating app which is quoted below:
“By posting Content as part of the Service, you automatically grant to the Company, its affiliates, licensees and successors, and irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, full, fully paid-up, worldwide right and license to (i) use, copy, store, perform, display, reproduce, record, play, adapt, modify and distribute the Content, (ii) prepare derivative works of the Content or incorporate the Content into other works, and (iii) grant and authorize sublicenses of the foregoing in any media now known or hereafter created.”
Most of the occasions, without signing any agreements, we leave our traces on the internet. Our browsing behavior, sites we are visiting, our bookmarked pages, content consuming pattern – everything is tracked, archived, analyzed, sold by tech companies to enhance their productivity, performance and profitability.
In result, what we get is:
- Mental Agony
- Stress
- Sometimes Financial Loss (due to our credit card / debit card data leak)
- Subconscious Manipulation
- Discrimination
Even imposing GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) , it’s very difficult to contain the exploitation of the commercial organizations. However, several Blockchain based groups are committed in giving full-freedom to the people without compromising their personal data. That is a welcome change. We hope, in the near future, after spending long hours on the internet, we can go to bed with peace of mind due to the non-intrusive decentralized internet.
By
Srini