In the News
The scandal of data collection is making headlines not only in media but also in politics. In Tim Cook wants a federal privacy law — but so do Facebook and Google, Russell Brandom at The Verge discusses Tim Cook’s, Apple’s CEO, opinion regarding the creation of a federal privacy law regulating ad-tracking and data collection in general. Brandom elaborated that Cook, along with many other technology company executives have been vocal about the desire for Congress to craft and pass a law regarding data collection practices. He explains that many companies are vocalizing support for such a bill because of the recent implementation of the GDPR in the EU and the desire of companies to mold the new US bill to their liking.
Our Take
The idea of a federal privacy law seems completely reasonable considering how much of our daily lives are invested in technology as well as the recent data misuse scandals. While the ideas and contributions of tech companies in creating such a law are useful and appear to be a step toward companies prioritizing user data security, understanding the ulterior motives behind such contributions is crucial to creating and supporting the best privacy law for the public. In the end, consumers are the ones with information stored at tech companies and their voices and options must be heard to ensure that data collection policies protect the reasonably-viewed rights of the public. However, input from tech companies will provide Congress with many perspectives involved in the reality of regulatory implementation and can be used to create a universally accepted and supported law. The success of the European Union GDPR law gives hope for similar regulation in the US and other nations around the globe.
Recommendations
How can you protect your data in the wake of so much scandal surrounding data collection?
- Understand the risks of putting your personal information into the world, and only share what you have to
- Make sure that you update all application and programs regularly to ensure you are using the most current and secure version
- Avoid clicking on direct links from social media, emails, or messages—always verify the source in a separate browser
- Don’t reuse your account passwords, and take advantage of multi-factor authentication where possible
- Only download apps or program that you can verify are safe, secure, and trusted
- Stay up to date on the news covering recent breaches to see if you may have been affected