Companies are misusing our data and there’s little we can do
Our personal, online data is being tracked and used by tech companies, but exactly how is unclear, writes School of Computer Science academic, Dr Suranga Seneviratne. As survey results pile, it's becoming clear Australians are sceptical about how their online data is tracked and used. But one question worth asking is: are our fears founded? The short answer is: yes. In a survey of 2,000 people completed last year, Privacy Australia found 57.9% of participants weren't confident companies would take adequate measures to protect their data. Similar scepticism was noted in results from the 2017 Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey of 1,800 people, which found: o 79% of participants felt uncomfortable with targeted advertising based on their online activities o 83% were uncomfortable with social networking companies keeping their information o 66% believed it was standard practice for mobile apps to collect user information and o 74% believed it was standard practice for websites to collect user information. Also in 2017, the Digital Rights in Australia report, prepared by the University of Sydney's Digital Rights and Governance Project, revealed 62% of 1,600 participants felt they weren't in control of their online privacy. About 47% were also concerned the government could violate their privacy. The ugly truth. Lately, a common pattern has emerged every time malpractice is exposed. The company involved will provide an "opt-out" mechanism for users, or a dashboard to see what personal data is being collected (for example, Google Privacy Checkup ), along with an apology. If we opt-out, does this mean they stop collecting our data?
