What’s Important: Consumer Online Privacy or Redefining Free Speech Rights?
Categories: consumer privacy rights, freedom of speech, data mining, Google, Acxiom
Everyone is concerned about the tone, abrasiveness and racial commentary of today's public icons. The media showed less outrage when President Bush commandeered the presidential office, than they did about a recently fired radio/TV disc jockey. But while the racial slurs of Michael Richards, Mel Gibson and Don Imus will forever haunt them, it seems like our country is overlooking the more relevant issues:
1) What happened to the freedom of speech? If it weren't for the late Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream..." speech, where would our country be today? Isn't everyone entitled to an opinion? Doesn't everyone have some form of bigotry coursing through his or her veins? Prejudice is not restricted to making commentary about another race. Disliking obese individuals, homosexuals or even the rude is considered a form of intolerance, synonymous with racism. Instead of crucifying blathering idiots about their crude commentary, the focus should be on healing, improving and unifying our society.
2) What's happening to consumer online privacy? We're focusing on the wrong issues. Rather than keep up with who said what, we should turn our attentions to protecting our privacies. While the importance of breeching confidentiality to apprehend terrorists, pedophiles and identity thieves, is justifiable, what entitlement does the corporate giant have to Americans' online activity?
The planned acquisition of Double Click empowers Google to return consumer queries, potentially monopolize online advertising and to track searches for pure monetization. The search engine magnate is not the only behemoth with the ammunition to track and monitor Internet activity. AT & T, Acxiom and a bevy of other data mining companies are watching, reporting and banking off America's Internet surfing behavior.
For instance, the poster-child of data mining, Acxiom collects more than 37 billion records and manages 200 marketing databases. Thanks to the lack of Internet legislation, Acxiom developed intelligent software that keeps personal logs of online users Internet behavior. (But insiders suggest that the government backs this type of surreptitious business modus operandi). After all, it’s about defending the war on terror.
Alternatively, some may argue that anti-spyware is the solution. Nevertheless, consumers’ online privacy is violated everyday -- regardless of how intensive the software is configured. Despite the efficacy of targeted marketing and the technology to monitor Internet users’ transactions, consumers should have a say in how their data is collected, maintained and shared.
What's more relevant obsessing over futile banter, re-defining free speech, or maintaining our right to online privacy?
The Consumer Journal wants your feedback regarding how your online activity is being used. Add your commentary below, your opinion will be added to the ballot within 24-hours and your email address will not be shared or abused for the purpose of spam.
Read More consumer information
By Holly Bentz (c) 2007fruitionMedia.net
Comments