Giving Away Your Privacy for Cheap and Free Services: Why You Should Question What You’re Giving Up
We live in a digital age where we can access a variety of online services for little or no cost. Whether it’s social media, email, cloud storage, messaging, or entertainment, we can enjoy these platforms without paying a dime or a penny if you’re in the UK. Between Q1 2009 to Q1 2022, interest rates were low the first iPhone had only just come out in 2007, technology was soaring, and money was cheap. It was a different time when you seemed to give out your email, and photos freely but with regulations like GDPR coming into place, data breaches, and consumers wanting to make money for handing over data, videos, or photos times have changed. But looking back have you ever wondered what the real price of these free services are, and will you change from now on? How do these companies make money from offering you something for nothing? And what are the implications for your privacy and security?
The answer is simple: data. Data is the new oil of the digital economy, and these companies collect, analyse, and sell your data to advertisers, marketers, and other third parties. They use your data to create detailed profiles of your preferences, behaviour, interests, and habits. They use your data to target you with personalised ads, recommendations, and offers. They use your data to influence your decisions, emotions, and actions.
But what’s wrong with that, you might ask. After all, you get to use these services for free, and you might even benefit from some of the features they offer. You might enjoy seeing ads that are relevant to your needs or getting suggestions that match your taste. You might not mind sharing some of your data in exchange for convenience, functionality, and entertainment.
The problem is that you don’t have full control over your data, and you don’t know how it’s being used, shared, or protected. You don’t have a say in how these companies collect, sell, process, or store your data. You don’t have a clear understanding of what data they collect, why they collect it, or who they share it with. You don’t have a guarantee that your data is secure, or that it won’t be hacked, leaked, or stolen.
Moreover, you don’t know the long-term consequences of giving away your data. You don’t know how your data might affect your reputation, your opportunities, your relationships, or your rights. You don’t know how your data might be used against you, to manipulate you, or to discriminate against you. You don’t know how your data might impact your freedom, your autonomy, your dignity, or your identity.
That’s why you should question what you’re giving up when you use these cheap and free services. You should be aware of the risks and trade-offs involved in exchanging your data for access. You should be informed of the policies and practices of these companies and the rights and options you have as a user. You should be vigilant of the threats and challenges that your data poses to your privacy and security.
And most importantly, you should be proactive in protecting your data and your privacy. You should take steps to limit the amount and type of data you share with these services and to opt out of unnecessary or unwanted data collection. You should use tools and techniques to encrypt, anonymise, or remove your data, and to prevent or block unwanted tracking, surveillance, or profiling. You should use alternatives and solutions that respect your privacy and give you control over your data.
This extends to advertisements in Microsoft Windows Operating System which started in Windows 8. You’ve paid for your OS so you don’t expect to see ads but the lines have blurred between the OS and Bing when you search or open the start/windows menu your search is returned with a mixture of local, OneDrive, web links and advertising thrown in for good measure. OS telemetry is being collected, crash reports are fine if they enhance or better future products but including built-in ads for consumers is not on.
Privacy is not something you should give up lightly, or without knowing the full implications. Privacy is not something you should trade for cheap and free services, or without getting a fair value. Privacy is not something you should sacrifice for convenience, functionality, or entertainment, without considering the costs.
Privacy is something you should value, cherish, and defend. Privacy is something you should demand, expect, and exercise. Privacy is something you should preserve, enhance, and promote.
Because privacy is not just a personal preference, or a luxury, or a privilege. Privacy is a fundamental right, a human need, and a social good. Privacy is essential for your well-being, your development, and your empowerment. Privacy is vital for civil liberties which underpin your democracy, your society, and your future.
Don’t give away your privacy for cheap and free services. Question what you’re giving up and take action to protect it.
I will also do a pro post for the economic and social benefits of free-flowing data and sharing in free platforms and services.
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