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The Murky World of Data Brokers: Privacy Concerns and the Blurred Line with Tech Giants ( #3fb2a612 , v0.01)
Data brokers are enigmatic companies that collect and sell personal information from public and private domains, social networks, browsing histories, and demographic censuses. They not only sell data but also offer customized analysis services. The line between data brokers and tech giants like Google and Facebook is often blurred . The global data brokers market reached $240 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow to $462 billion by 2031 . Some of the biggest data brokers include Acxiom, Experian, Equifax, CoreLogic, Epsilon, and LexisNexis . They collect and store various types of information, including psychographic profiles, which are used for targeted advertising and tailored financial products . The data is obtained from online forms, cookies, and WiFi networks . The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) aims to protect user privacy, but there are loopholes that allow data brokers to operate outside the EU .
In the new era of social media, privacy concerns persist despite the rise of new platforms. Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter has not alleviated these concerns, as advertising revenue on the platform has declined significantly . Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has also faced fines and settlements for its failure to protect user data, further eroding trust in social media platforms . The use of automated tools by these platforms often leads to discriminatory results, exacerbating privacy concerns . Privacy policies and practices are often convoluted and difficult for users to comprehend . While newer platforms like Bluesky and Mastodon offer greater privacy, there are no legal requirements for them to do so . Meta's platform, Threads, collects sensitive user data, adding to the privacy risks . Attempts to regulate data collection have been fragmented and limited, with state-level laws and individual enforcement actions driving change . The American Data Privacy and Protection Act remains in a state of uncertainty in Congress .
Data brokers, such as Kochava, are also contributing to privacy concerns. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a complaint against Kochava, accusing the company of amassing and selling sensitive information about consumers without their consent . The FTC alleges that Kochava's database includes products capable of identifying nearly every person in the United States, allowing advertisers to trace individuals' movements and target them based on specific characteristics or attributes . The unsealed court filing contains evidence of the widespread pattern of unfair use and sale of sensitive data by data brokers . The lack of consequences for data brokers and skepticism about the effectiveness of the legal system in addressing the issue are highlighted . The article also questions whether separate consent forms for sensitive information should be required from companies like Google and Apple .
The common theme in these inputs is the violation of privacy and the erosion of trust in social media platforms and data brokers. Privacy concerns persist in the new era of social media, with platforms like Twitter and Meta facing challenges in protecting user data . Data brokers like Kochava are also accused of amassing and selling sensitive information without consent, raising further privacy concerns .
#databrokers #privacyconcerns #socialmediaplatforms #targetedadvertising #GDPR
References:
- EL PAÍS English: https://english.elpais.com/economy-and-business/2023-11-13/the-murky-world-of-data-brokers.html
- : https://yro.slashdot.org/story/23/11/08/1954245/data-brokers-staggering-sale-of-sensitive-info-exposed-in-unsealed-ftc-filing
- Vogue India: https://www.vogue.in/content/the-new-era-of-social-media-looks-as-bad-for-privacy-as-the-last-one
Data brokers are enigmatic companies that collect and sell personal information from public and private domains, social networks, browsing histories, and demographic censuses. They not only sell data but also offer customized analysis services. The line between data brokers and tech giants like Google and Facebook is often blurred . The global data brokers market reached $240 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow to $462 billion by 2031 . Some of the biggest data brokers include Acxiom, Experian, Equifax, CoreLogic, Epsilon, and LexisNexis . They collect and store various types of information, including psychographic profiles, which are used for targeted advertising and tailored financial products . The data is obtained from online forms, cookies, and WiFi networks . The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) aims to protect user privacy, but there are loopholes that allow data brokers to operate outside the EU .
In the new era of social media, privacy concerns persist despite the rise of new platforms. Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter has not alleviated these concerns, as advertising revenue on the platform has declined significantly . Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has also faced fines and settlements for its failure to protect user data, further eroding trust in social media platforms . The use of automated tools by these platforms often leads to discriminatory results, exacerbating privacy concerns . Privacy policies and practices are often convoluted and difficult for users to comprehend . While newer platforms like Bluesky and Mastodon offer greater privacy, there are no legal requirements for them to do so . Meta's platform, Threads, collects sensitive user data, adding to the privacy risks . Attempts to regulate data collection have been fragmented and limited, with state-level laws and individual enforcement actions driving change . The American Data Privacy and Protection Act remains in a state of uncertainty in Congress .
Data brokers, such as Kochava, are also contributing to privacy concerns. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a complaint against Kochava, accusing the company of amassing and selling sensitive information about consumers without their consent . The FTC alleges that Kochava's database includes products capable of identifying nearly every person in the United States, allowing advertisers to trace individuals' movements and target them based on specific characteristics or attributes . The unsealed court filing contains evidence of the widespread pattern of unfair use and sale of sensitive data by data brokers . The lack of consequences for data brokers and skepticism about the effectiveness of the legal system in addressing the issue are highlighted . The article also questions whether separate consent forms for sensitive information should be required from companies like Google and Apple .
The common theme in these inputs is the violation of privacy and the erosion of trust in social media platforms and data brokers. Privacy concerns persist in the new era of social media, with platforms like Twitter and Meta facing challenges in protecting user data . Data brokers like Kochava are also accused of amassing and selling sensitive information without consent, raising further privacy concerns .
#databrokers #privacyconcerns #socialmediaplatforms #targetedadvertising #GDPR
References:
- EL PAÍS English: https://english.elpais.com/economy-and-business/2023-11-13/the-murky-world-of-data-brokers.html
- : https://yro.slashdot.org/story/23/11/08/1954245/data-brokers-staggering-sale-of-sensitive-info-exposed-in-unsealed-ftc-filing
- Vogue India: https://www.vogue.in/content/the-new-era-of-social-media-looks-as-bad-for-privacy-as-the-last-one