Think Before You Click 

Knowing your rights when it comes to digital privacy

Discovering what your rights are, and knowing the legality of clicking accept and consenting to i.e. cookies, promotional codes, and most importantly, who the information is going to.

 

Sadly, unlike other countries, the United States doesn’t have universal laws that protect users data privacy. Instead, there are specific federal laws that give vague framework on data privacy :

• HIPAA (protects privacy of patients health information)
• FCRA (limiting access to credit reporting)
• FERPA (protects privacy of students educational records)
• ECPA (protects wire, oral, and electronic communication while being made, in transit, and stored)
• COPPA (protects collections of data on children under 13 years old)

A majority of products/applications that collect our data in day to day life is unregulated and up to the discretion of the company to do what they want with it

 

Don’t eat the cookies without reading the fine print first, seriously!

 

So what does it mean when websites ask you to “accept all cookies”? Depending on your response, how will it impact your future web browsing?

Simple answer, it is a way that websites track us to “enhance” our experience on their website and relative other searches one may have.

Cookies are small files websites use to track and monitor users, from what you click on with interest on an e-commerce site, and login information. They will personalize ads to be relevant to your location and interests of past searches, to show you things you may also find interesting. In essence, they are meant to be helpful and streamline your footprint on the internet, but with the data privacy feeling like the last frontier with more questions than answers on who owns data and who in turn is responsible for protecting it, there is no clear path.

 

Ways we can protect our own digital footprint:

• Actually read the fine print and terms and conditions before agreeing, seriously, read it.
• Encrypt your data
• Browse the web with companies who prioritize your privacy: Mozilla Corporation (Firefox)
• Use of alternative forms of communication i.e. Proton Mail, message with Signal
• When signing up for apps, consider entering in your own email/password instead of linking accounts through Facebook or other social media sites

 

Ways we can help protect and guide adolescents with their own digital footprint:

• Again, have them read the fine print and term and conditions before agreeing, making sure they know what they are actually agreeing to
  • Look out for End User License Agreement (EULA)
  • Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) protects the collection of data on children under 13
• Actively promote the commonly accepted precautions when it comes to being active online:
  • Don’t post personal information (name, address, phone number, personal pictures, school name, location)
  • No sharing of passwords
  • Make sure adolescents are registering their actual age
• Be aware how your posts on social media willingly gives away data on your children (name, DOB, location of birth, health issues)

 

 

 

 

For more information:

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/state-of-privacy-laws-in-us/

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0031-protecting-your-childs-privacy-online

Top 7 Ways to Protect Your Child’s Digital Privacy