In late August, messaging application WhatsApp announced that it would be sharing users’ phone numbers with its parent company, Facebook, so that the social media giant can create more targeted ads. Users immediately took to social media to voice their concerns and share ways to opt out. However, apps and websites have been collecting user data for years, some for advertising, and others to provide specific services. But does this necessarily mean our data is at risk? Is privacy the price we pay to use these technologies? And if so, is it worth it? Readers discuss.
Trust
Don’t worry, you can opt out
As of April 28, 2016, the advertisement revenue of Facebook was valued close to $5.2 billion (Dh19.1 billion). On YouTube and other social media websites, advertisements serve as a huge source of revenue for companies and well-known bloggers. Since we are using a social media site free of cost, I think the network has the right to get advertising revenues to function properly. Additionally, I feel that WhatsApp and Facebook’s new data sharing plan would drastically help reduce spam alerts and unnecessary advertisements.
WhatsApp will also begin giving businesses a chance to send messages to us through the application. It guarantees that these messages will be about things that are critical to users. For example, if I am travelling soon, the airline I have booked on might text me about a delay in my flight. Indeed, even along these lines, it appears to be a striking move, considering WhatsApp’s past position of being free from ads. Nevertheless, we have no reason to panic, because as of now, the chat app has given users the option to opt out of this system.
I put my faith in Facebook and other social media sites to protect my private data from going public. I’m just a common man, so I shouldn’t be worried about how social media takes care of my data. However, considering the recent Democratic National Convention (DNC) hack, where Hillary Clinton’s leaked emails were rumoured to be hacked from Eastern Europe, I feel that the current level of security has to be increased drastically.
From Mr Nischal Kanth Mongam
Master of Business Administration (MBA) student, based in Dubai
Responsibility
Protecting privacy is also up to users
I am okay with data sharing, since everyone is using the internet on a daily basis. However, we need to be cautious and responsible about what we are sharing and how it is shared. A majority of people use free apps and services like Facebook, Instagram, etc. Since they are on a free platform, they need to earn money from ads to make improvements. This means hiring more developers to expand and enhance products. I am certain that big technology companies are trying their best to protect our information, otherwise they stand to lose credibility. Take, for example, the iCloud hack of 2014, where celebrities’ private photos were leaked online.
If users want privacy regarding their locations, they can always turn off their location tracking apps or global positioning systems (GPS). Keep in mind, however, that some applications need location information to run properly, which is understandable, for apps like Pokemon GO, Google Maps, Uber, and more. Again, it’s up to the user to share it, though it might mean not being able to use the service. Nevertheless, individuals have a choice.
Additionally, I think protecting privacy is also partly the user’s responsibility. People need to know how to use the privacy settings of certain apps, and must read the terms and conditions so that they can protect themselves. Unfortunately, most people don’t read the terms and conditions. Doing so will make them aware of data sharing policies and allow them to make informed decisions about what service to use.
With regards to concerns about hackers stealing information, I change my password frequently and utilise a two-step verification process, if the platform or app has those features. Most importantly, I think we all need to align with legitimate companies for the security of our data.
From Mr Franz Lester Cabituhan
Admin assistant, based in Dubai
Beneficial
Ads can provide information you need
Personally, I don’t mind giving up my basic personal information for certain apps that I find useful. For example, messaging apps like Viber or WhatsApp are extremely beneficial to me, so I agree to their terms and conditions in exchange for the ability to use the app. If it benefits you, then why not use it? I think the information we give, which is purely meta-data, is worth the services of the app. However, I do draw the line, in terms of what I share. Sometimes, I choose not to continue with an app or service if I find that it asks for information that is too personal.
Besides, I’m not bothered by targeted advertising, because it helps me find what I’m looking for. Understandably, I prefer ads that are relevant to me and my life, and seeing targeted advertising can give me valuable information about a product or brand that I may not have heard of, in other ways. It’s better than seeing messages that I do not relate to at all.
As for hackers, they will always exist. There will always be people who try to steal data or leak everything online. However, that doesn’t mean we should stop trusting technology and tech companies altogether. The more information you share, the bigger the damage, if a hacker exposes you, but that doesn’t increase your chances of getting hacked. What does increase your chances is sharing information with suspicious websites or software. Even for big companies that did get hacked in the past, like LinkedIn, you just have to trust that they will have better security systems in the future. For me, data mining and data sharing are not bad at all. It just depends on who you share and trust your data with.
From Mr Jorel Christopher
Animator, based in Dubai
Transparency
Technology companies should share some information too
The way the world is going, there is no escape from technology. The choice has become to either reject the technology or accept all its risks. Even using mobile phones can have risks. It’s hard to find a comfortable level, where you have both privacy and free use.
Your searches, profiles, locations — all these things are monitored and profiled. If a technology company decides to do so, it can use this data against you and make your life difficult. However, these organisations who can monitor and access our data must be highly ethical and accountable to the law. Nevertheless, ordinary people can make mistakes, and individuals may be in a position to use the data for their own personal use.
There must be an international authoritative body that monitors to check if this collected data is used in a proper way. Who would that be? It’s hard to determine who will decide, because each party has its own agenda, but I believe that companies like Facebook and WhatsApp, which are used globally, must be transparent and this information must be accessible to anyone – people should know what is being shared, which Facebook or company employee has seen this data, who accessed it, and where it was sent. It should be open source. However, there should be audit agencies that check the accuracy of this data, because just one company, government, or person may fail.
I’m sure technology companies have a huge security department with lots of engineers, but start-ups and small companies would not have the same level of security. So, be careful what you share. People don’t know that even giving the date of birth can create a complication, because this is a standard security question asked by banks. Additionally, the passwords you select for these start-up apps should not be the same password you use for other accounts. That’s because some companies don’t encrypt passwords. Some of them keep your passwords in their database in plain text. Therefore, somebody who works for a certain company can see your email address and password. If it matches the same details as your other accounts, these people can access that information. What I do is use trivial passwords for my accounts.
From Mr Murat Ozturk
Group IT manager, based in Dubai
