The Online Privacy Lie Is Unraveling

Tech Crunch ^ | 06/07/15 | Natasha Lomas

[Enlightened1]

A new report into U.S. consumers’ attitude to the collection of personal data has highlighted the disconnect between commercial claims that web users are happy to trade privacy in exchange for ‘benefits’ like discounts. On the contrary, it asserts that a large majority of web users are not at all happy, but rather feel powerless to stop their data being harvested and used by marketers.

The report authors’ argue it’s this sense of resignation that is resulting in data tradeoffs taking place — rather than consumers performing careful cost-benefit analysis to weigh up the pros and cons of giving up their data (as marketers try to claim). They also found that where consumers were most informed about marketing practices they were also more likely to be resigned to not being able to do anything to prevent their data being harvested.

“Rather than feeling able to make choices, Americans believe it is futile to manage what companies can learn about them. Our study reveals that more than half do not want to lose control over their information but also believe this loss of control has already happened,” the authors write

49% of American adults who use the Internet believe (incorrectly) that by law a supermarket must obtain a person’s permission before selling information about that person’s food purchases to other companies.

69% do not know that a pharmacy does not legally need a person’s permission to sell information about the over-the-counter drugs that person buys.

65% do not know that the statement “When a website has a privacy policy, it means the site will not share my information with other websites and companies without my permission” is false.

[grania]

I don't use affinity cards, except at the pet food store. FWIW, some stores have "store cards" for those who refuse to use affinity cards. I never use anything but cash for day-to-day purchases, again with the pet food exception.

The Tech Gods must think I'm a dotty old lady who lives on dog food!

[originalbuckeye]

The term ‘online privacy’ is pretty much an oxyMORON.

[Chickensoup]

my local pharmacy was eaten by RiteAid

Made many purchases at Rite Aid.

Then they started using a card, could not purchase at sale prices without card.

So I paid higher prices on emergency and convenience items that I needed pronto and went to Walgreens for everything else.

Walgreens just started the card thing.

So now I go to Walmart for all pharm needs. No card, no hassle.

I have absolutely nothing to hide, I just am tired of being tracked like a criminal.

[grania]

I have absolutely nothing to hide. I'm just tired of being tracked like a criminal.

Me either. For me, it's more a feeling of being treated like a commodity to be monetized.

[Chickensoup]

Interestingly enough Shaws had those tracking cards for years and dropped them. I left shaws after they initiated the cards.

[eyeamok]

I use absolutely NO CARDS except Costco, I make almost NO ELECTRONIC transactions, with the exception of purchasing a few things on the Internet, mostly stuff for my Cars, Boats, or Airplanes, simply because you just can’t go buy the stuff I order. All of it is sent to a second home in AZ where most of my stuff is, I pay for Everything in CASH.

Am I worried about being bought, sold, and marketed like a $2 Dollar whore? NOPE

Identity Theft is just like Syphilis, ABSTINENCE works every time it is tried. Make NO ELECTRONIC Transactions and you are safe.