The Data Brokers
After watching these 60 minutes videos, discuss how you feel about the business of selling private information:
1. Should it be legal? People willingly put there information into questionnaires and online surveys, so marketers or "data brokers" are just using information that people have put out on the internet.
2. What, if anything, should be done about the practice?
3. If you've filled out a survey or shared personal information with a company, did you have any idea that they'd be able to sell your information?
4. From the second video, what do you think about the steps the woman takes to protect her privacy?
Link: "The Data Brokers"
Link: "How To Defend Your Privacy Online"
It shouldn't be hidden from us in a long long list of terms and services stuff, people enjoy privacy not having it can drive someone crazy. For the public to be able to openly see anything on you or for companies to buy all my information makes me uneasy. I feel that companies should use survey data you used for their own good since you willingly filled it out if they want to sell the data they can ask you.
ReplyDeleteI agree, although they do tell you in the terms and conditions that it could be sold they should be more straight forward with it rather then making it so long that nobody would take the time to read it.
DeleteExactly, I shouldn't have to search through pages of terms and conditions to find out if they can sell my information. Companies should be more transparent with their policies and stop trying to be secretive with my information to make some cash. If companies would offer grater privacy they would make more money because people like privacy. In my opinion, it isn't right to do what data brokers do but it is both the companies and our faults why it is happening.
DeleteI think it should be legal, because the places they do take information from usually have terms of conditions that say all information can be visible by the public.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you because you are technically allowing them to do so without even knowing you did it.
DeleteI agree, if you are careless and don't take the time to read the terms and conditions then that's the cost of your information no longer being private.
DeleteI agree Logan, the people who take this data more often then not won't have our best interests in mind when they sell it to companies.
DeleteLike i said Up there if there are terms that you agree to follow and dont follow then it should be illegal
DeletePeople make very good money selling data brokering.
DeleteYup. If they agree to the terms and service, the host can freely do anything with their information, and if something bad happens, it can really be blamed on the user for connecting since they agreed to the contract
DeleteIf there are terms that you follow and don't follow then it should be illegal.
DeleteYa in a technicl stance what data broking agencies is completley legal, but from a logical stand point as a person from the public data brokering agencies should have to more promennently tell the user tht they are taking their data.
DeleteThis should not be legal by any means. It is very creepy that someone is watching your every online move, and selling that information. I think that this should be illegal, or people should have a choice as to wether or not they want to be tracked. Someone should not have to take such extraordinary measures to have privacy.
ReplyDeleteThe terms and things like that are out for the public but I do agree that it is really creepy and people should have the choice.
DeleteI agree completely. I wouldn't want my every move to be tracked.
DeleteI agree people should have a choice on wether they want to be tracked or not. Many people are not aware that the data brokers are out there selling your information.
DeleteI agree, it shouldn't be legal. People should have a choice with what is shared online also.
DeleteI agree it shouldn't be legal although people should have a choice with what is shared online also.
DeleteI completely agree, the fact these agencies can track your data like this is creepy and mind numbing, but at the same time we have to relize this will probobly be a continuing thing with future technology's. Useres should have the choice, but it is completely legal due to the fine print.
DeleteThe data brokers have the right to sell your information because you did give it to them, however you didn't know you did. I don't think it is fair that data brokers can take all of the information that they do, but if the public were more educated there wouldn't be as much as a problem. People have no idea that everything they do and say online is recorded and potentially sold.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think most people are unaware that "data brokers" even exist.
DeleteI agree people are very unaware of the data brokers taking there information and selling it and people should be more educated about it so they know when they are giving permission to the data brokers to sell there information.
DeleteI agree because even though you think you're not giving it to them, you are. A lot of people don't even know about data brokers.
DeleteI agree, people don't really know what happens on the internet when they giver their information.
DeleteIt should be legal because from all of the places they got the information from had terms of conditions that says all of the information can be visible by the public.
ReplyDeleteI agree because like you said all the information is visible by the public.
DeleteI agree because even if it isn't visibly stated in bold on the front page of the terms and conditions, it's still there. Which basically means you're giving them the right to use/sell your information.
DeleteI think if they break the terms then it should be illegal but if they dont than its legal
DeleteThis should be legal because the data brokers have the rights to due so because you gave them the rights without even knowing. It is not fair that they can do this, but it's how it's going to be. You have no idea that everything you do online is recored and eventually sold to randies.
ReplyDeleteYou make a good point but if they're to take our data and sell it shouldn't we get some money in return like maybe if you have a online bank account or something that someone could make and then people could be given money by these companies although that is unlikely.
DeleteThis should be legal because the data brokers have the rights to due so because you gave them the rights without even knowing. It is not fair that they can do this, but it's how it's going to be. You have no idea that everything you do online is recored and eventually sold to randies.
DeleteThis shouldn't be legal. I don't want somebody watching my every move. Data brokers should make people more aware that we are allowing them to see our information rather than just putting it in their terms and conditions that they know most people don't read.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I find it very creepy that someone would want to track you and sell your information.
DeleteYes, you have a good point, they should make people more aware.
DeleteIt's not exactly like they are watching your every move, they are just buying the information you already gave out online.
DeleteI agree. Instead of "trying" to make people aware about letting them see and/or sell our information in a long list of terms and conditions, they should make it a little bit easier to see or even just have a pop-up that asks.
DeleteThis shouldn't be legal. I don't want people seeing everything i do on the internet. If the data brokers asked for information then it would be more understandable but just going and taking peoples information is an invasion of there privacy and should not be allowed.
ReplyDeleteData brokers are taking advantage of people daily. It is unfair that most people are unaware of this.
DeleteMany people don't like data brokers for many reasons including thier high secrecy. However, if everyone suddenly found out about them a major uprising would happen which would mostlikely end up putting them out of buisness. It is disturbing, but in the end they are in it for profits and damaging you or anyone else would hurt thier profits. So by just selling your information secretly for nothing more than legal and sound purposes they are making money without causing a scene and recieving criticizem.
DeleteI guess in a twisted way, data brokers have the right to sell your information online , because you just gave your information away to different companies, that the data brokers have access to. It's not fair that they do that, but there is no law stopping them. I think that peoples opinion would be different if the companies were more transparent.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it is creepy there is nothing stopping them from doing so.
ReplyDeleteExactly, and people need to be smart about what they post.
DeleteYou're right, as of now there is no way to prevent this and if more people knew about this the more of a deal it would become. However while the idea of your information bieng sold sounds scarry, to these companys you are nothing more than a potential profit and it would make little sence to do something harmfull to you.
DeleteI think it is wrong that data brokers take our information and use it, but it's not illegal. They get the data that you give to them through online polls and quizzes, it's not like they stole it from you.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe it should be illegal for the data brokers to do what they do because technically they do tell the people that they could be tracked or your information could be sold, however, I believe they should be more straight forward rather then hide it in a long list that makes it difficult for the public to take the time to read through.
ReplyDeleteI think it'd be somewhat okay if they let the people know what they were doing and what information they were gathering.
DeleteAlthough it's wrong that data brokers use the information that we give to them, it shouldn't be illegal. What data brokers should do though is be up front instead of hiding it in the long list of terms and conditions.
ReplyDeleteI think that this shouldn't be legal, I don't want people taking my person information and selling it. Many people are not aware of this, and everyone should be aware of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, because it is an invasion of people's privacy.I think that it is completely wrong and many people don't even understand that data brokers are doing that. I think that everyone should be more educated on what is really happening with there data because many people have no idea.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt think it should definitely be illegal because they have terms and conditions that you have to agree with so by breaking that agreement you did something wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe information people put on the internet is permeant and can never be deleted. People need to be smart about what they put on the internet, and if they are they have nothing to worry about. I do not think it should be illegal to sell information on the internet.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with it but it happens because of peoples unawareness and as you said not being smart. If people would take a second to question if what they are posting might backfire there wouldn't be as many problems.
DeleteShould it be illegal? It really depends on what its being used for. Is it mostly being used for phishing, ads, tracking, or other bad stuff? Then it should be illegal. Is it being used to find and track suspicious users? Then it should be legal. It really all depends on the situation.
ReplyDeleteI sort of agree with this.
DeleteI think it should unless you are a fellon
DeleteThis should not be legal, its not right for people to see everything you post or your every move that you make on the internet. The data brokers should make people more aware of what really could happen instead of the term about it because people might change there minds about it.
ReplyDeleteI think it should be legal as long as it is used soley for marketing and storage information, Having a history about someone can help in many ways like in a court or showing you new things you might enjoy. If you are into skiing and a skiing resort finds this out, they will advertise to you and you might want to go there even though you never would have heaard of it otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI think it should be illegal to collect data from a user without their consent and knowledge. Overall though I don't think it needs to be completely banned or illegal I just believe data broking agencies should more prominently tell their users that their data is being taken and used.
ReplyDeleteI agree i dont want anyone look at my digital paper trail.
DeleteData broking shouldn't be legal. I absolutely don't like that just by going on my phone or laptop or another computer, that someone could be getting my information. I think it should be baned.
ReplyDeleteI think that it should be illegal. i dont want anything i look up that i think is cool and have it turn on me like on a job app.
ReplyDelete