Privacy in the Internet Essay - 2034 Words

Privacy in the Internet How would you feel if I told you that I know almost everything there is to know about you – from your occupation to the brand of toothpaste you use, from your IQ to your culinary tastes, and so on – even though you have never met me, and possibly were not even aware of my existence? Most people would immediately state that they would feel violated, stripped of their individuality. Yet millions of people browse the Net day after day, blissfully ignorant of the fact that that they are always being monitored by someone to some degree. By selling you items and/or services, Amazon.com knows your reading preferences; your favorite online grocery store knows what kind of toothpaste you prefer; your university knows†¦show more content†¦The European Union (EU) has introduced and enacted a privacy law that protects all of its member countries’ citizens from both governmental and commercial misuse of citizens’ personal data. Meanwhile, the U.S. has been bus y with protecting its businesses (e.g. passing laws such as DMCA, et. al.). Of course, that is not to say that no steps toward achieving a better privacy have been made by the U.S. On April 21, 2000, Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) has come into effect[3]. This law states that no information about children under the age of 13 may be collected without prior parents’ consent[4]. Theoretically, the law only allows the data to be used as described to the parent. In practice, however, it does not prevent the operator (i.e. the collector of the information) from using the data in any way they like – so long as they mention the way of using the data. The reason for that is that many parents do not read the agreement, and in some instances, the child accessing the website is asked whether they have their parents’ permission, to which they just answer â€Å"yes† without actually checking in with their parent or legal guardian. It is partially due to those reasons that some companies have started overcompensating for the law; for instance, AOL has disabled accounts for all users that have specified that they are less th an 13 years of age[5]. Currently, the service is â€Å"restricted† to 13-and-over users, which, as alreadyShow MoreRelatedInternet Privacy And The Internet1895 Words   |  8 PagesInternet privacy is an issue that has constantly taken up a portion of the world stage for many years. Legislators are even now trying to find the delicate balance between Internet privacy and Internet security. The medium of the Internet is simply too new to be completely understood by lawmakers, and it will take some time before there is a complete grasp. Online Privacy and Facebook Nowadays, the new generation life without Facebook is almost unthinkable. Since its inception in 2004, this popularRead MoreInternet Privacy.1148 Words   |  5 PagesSolutions for Violations of Internet Privacy. 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The sharing of photos, thoughts and even ideas has become a more prevalent event for everyone as time has progressed. Computers, tablets, and phones are used widely each day for social media sites, as well as purchasing