"If you're doing something that you don't want other people to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place."
—Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google
He said this when asked about how his company is causing invasions of privacy for hundreds of millions worldwide.
Do you agree with him? Should only "bad" people worry about privacy because "good" people don't have anything to worry about?
Your data is valuable. And the truth is: nearly everything you do online can and is being tracked:
Apps you download
Websites you visit
Links you click
Social posts you make
Videos and music you watch
This isn’t a conspiracy. It’s just how the internet works today. Your info can be collected, sold, and even used to influence what you see… and what others see about you.
(start at 11:32 for an counterargument to Eric Schmidt's quote above)
Activity: Log in to MyActivity on Google and let's see what they have collected about you! Are there any settings you want to change?
Turn off analytics on your phone
Delete apps you don’t use & revoke permissions
Install privacy-focused browser extensions
Consider encryption or a VPN
Opt out of “improve this software” or data-sharing options
(Adapted from the University of Northern Colorado.
Also see: Your Technology Is Tracking You. Take These Steps for Better Online Privacy.)
Think beyond annoying ads, your data could impact all sorts of things:
Job applications
Insurance rates
Political targeting
Even your personal reputation
Check out: Invisible Manipulation: 10 ways our data is being used against us.
Pick your favorite social app and visit its website.
Find its privacy policy (usually at the bottom)
Explore what data it collects about you.
Share what you discover in the discussion thread.
Most people skip these policies, but they reveal a lot about how companies track your digital life.
Knowledge is Power - Your data can be collected, stored, and sold without you knowing.
Stay Protected - Poor privacy habits can expose sensitive info like location, contacts, and finances.
Avoid Digital Bubbles - Tracking can be used to target ads, manipulate choices, or influence behavior.
Control Your Image - Knowing how to manage privacy settings puts you back in control of your digital footprint.