Is Online Privacy Becoming A Reality?
It would appear that in light of recent high-profile security breaches that the feds are finally going to stop ignoring the issue of online privacy. Sony, JPMorgan Chase, Best Buy, and Target are among the major companies who have had major online security breaches.
Businessweek has reported that lawmakers are in the midst of trying to determine what the new rules should be in an ever growing online problem. Al Franken has addressed that consumers have the right to know what data is being collected about them. The US is not up to par with Europe in its digital security measures.
Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va) proposes a mechanism similar to the “Do Not Call” registry for online tracking, aptly called “Do Not Track.” We all know how “successful” the “Do Not Call” registry has been. Various companies are attempting to prepare for the storm that will result from all the laws that may take effect. Microsoft and Google have already begun creating “opt out” options for tracking in the latest version of their browsers.
The long and the short of it is that this latest attempt on the part of the government is going to send ripples through the World Wide Web as we know it. Social media moguls will be amongst the hardest hit in these mandated changes if and when they are to happen.
The collection of data on the internet as well as tracking people’s habits has become among the most cost-efficient ways for companies to market to their potential customers. Our habits as net surfers are what help them determine what we will buy, watch and listen to. It’s become very much the fabric upon which the social media world has been based, especially in terms of profitability.
Every time a net surfer likes something on one of over two million websites and growing, this is a form of traceable internet activity. What would happen to Facebook if people are no longer freely able to like something? The game will change as a result of people having the right to privacy online.
This is not a bad thing for us as consumers. The government’s handling of this situation much like others will raise questions. Will they be able to deliver solid results? Or will this merely be another “Do Not Call” registry?
Follow Technorati