UK internet privacy rights article.

Click here to see Software4Students contact details

We accept mastercard and visa credit cards

Newsletter

Privacy: UK firms Selling Your Data

Are we asleep at the wheel? by SoftwareGuru Friday 17th July 2009 When it comes to privacy and the internet there's one example that springs to mind. If a car dealer after the sale started keeping records on every place you went to, who you visited, what you did and more, wouldn't you think that was outrageous? How would you feel then if that same personal activity data was being sold to others? Well that's exactly what ISPs and mobile phone companies do every day and they are getting away with it. The media's current fascination with newer tech companies such as Twitter and Facebook means that journalists have taken their eye off the ball when it comes to practises by the old guard. If the credit crunch has taught us anything, it is that companies left unchecked will do whatever they want to make profits with little regard for the rights or interests of the individual customer. This is why it deserves a closer look.	^ Three Fifty: This short indie film takes a look at privacy rights and how much information is available about you at just the touch of a button.
	Mobile Internet Broadband As internet usage has increased, our online activity comes not only from a PC but for a variety of digital devices including mobile phones, laptops and game consoles. In each instance we are usually presented with a list of Terms & Conditions. Do we read them? No. Companies take advantage of society's impatience and growing need for instant gratification by putting in any terms they wish, knowing that 95% of people won't read them and less than 5% are likely to complain. Therefore, the user simply clicks "yes, I agree" and gets on with the task at hand. Example of Your Data Being Harvested Any budding student lawyers or interested parents should take a look at the terms and conditions of O2 PAYG mobile broadband. The key points are as follows: Customers must agree to allow information about them and all aspects of their communications to be 'used and disclosed' to other parties. (paragraph 15.1). Customers must agree to all of their personal data & communications traffic being analysed by O2 and other/third parties for marketing purposes (paragraph 15.2) including location data too (15.3). All the telecom companies have similar terms and conditions so we could easily replace O2 with Vodafone or T-mobile and the issue is still there. For national security reasons it's accepted by most people that we must sacrifice our privacy to some degree for the greater good. To do so however, so that other companies can profit and in a way which we would find wholly unacceptable in any other medium is a step too far. It makes junk mail through your letterbox seem innocent and quaint by comparison.
Will UK Internet Users Fight For Privacy? Unless people start complaining loudly then our privacy online will continue to be eroded so that telecom company profits can be maximised. It is important that all companies give internet users the opportunity to opt-in to marketing schemes and not simply subject them to it without permission. Privacy is an important issue in this Web 2.0 generation and it's about time that parents and students alike stood up to protect themselves and their data. The Government is not doing enough to enforce existing legislation and protect individual user data from unscrupulous companies. #privacyfail Write a letter: If you use the internet on any mobile device contact your mobile service provider by letter. Inform them that you do not wish your details to be sold to other companies. Say that you are prepared to go to another network with a better internet privacy policy and name drop a rival. Get vocal. Use social media: Previous tags in twitter caused by consumer anger have included #amazonfail so you and your friends could try to make #privacyfail a trending topic and mention whatever company it is that is selling your details. You could even start a Facebook group or blog about it if you find the company you are dealing with is not prepared to do anything. If you're starting to think that sounds like a lot of effort and "why bother?", think about all the spam, intrusive ads and marketing schemes you are subjected to daily without your permission. Who will telecom companies listen to? The regulator Ofcom or their customers? It's your data, your decision.

Join the debate on UK internet privacy rights at Software4Students.

Software4Students - Educational and Desktop Software Solutions. Copyright (C) 2003-2012 All Rights Reserved.
Address: Dept 150, 21 Botanic Avenue, Belfast, BT7 1JJ Phone: + 44 (0) 20 7870 7983 Email: support@software4students.co.uk