Andy Yen discusses how Big Tech is forcing users to give up personal privacy in return for access to key internet services.
Most people have essentially given up on protecting their personal data online, which is exactly what Big Tech wants. They have worked hard to make internet privacy seem endlessly complex. And even companies that claim to respect privacy, such as Apple or Google, in reality offer an ultimatum: „Share your data with only us or lose access to much of the internet“. This concept was embodied by WhatsApp earlier this year when it came to light that WhatsApp would delete itself unless users consented to more tracking. When left in the hands of Big Tech, privacy is often the cost of using the internet. The data shows that people have had enough of this disregard for their privacy. A recent survey run by Proton (the team behind ProtonMail and ProtonVPN) found that 87% of Brits are concerned about their digital privacy. What is worrisome is 90% of respondents expressed that they did not want their emails scanned,87% did not want their contacts scanned, and 79% did not want their location recorded, and yet 82% of people are using email providers that can do all of the above. The recent public outrages surrounding Apple and Facebook’s privacy practices further corroborate the sentiment that people want their privacy respected. This has led to a growing movement of people switching to alternative, privacy-focused services. It also explains why a number of big tech companies have made big claims about the action they are taking to protect the privacy of their customers. For instance, Google’s recent decisions to block third-party cookies and apply two-factor authentication by default, seem like they are taking real action. However, Google has since announced that it will delay the implementation of these reforms while simultaneously continuing to collect personal data through its services. Big Tech makes protecting your privacy complex by offering an endless range of privacy options and menus.
