We agree to the terms-of-service without thinking because we want to use the resources that help us (Salam). Since we do not think about what we are complying with, we willingly mark ‘I agree’ to whatever may be written in the terms and conditions. This makes people unaware of how their privacy is even being violated at times. People introduce technology into their lives like search engines, and different applications everyday, and fail to recognize how it invades their privacy because of its convenience. There is a need for awareness in how privacy is being hindered in order to protect it.
Google and search engines alike, are looked at as some of the most convenient tools ever created, but never seem to be looked at as the most dangerous. “Major web search engines, such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo, also collect information about users’ search histories, among other personal information”. These search engines are able to be used at no cost, making it more convenient for users, by selling this information to advertisers, data brokers, and government agencies. Since Google is able to get to know its consumer so well, it can use this to its advantage by effectively advertising to them. “In the fifteen seconds it takes the user to get to that resource, information about the user’s search is collected by the internet service provider (ISP), the web browser, the search engine, the website hosting the resource, and any third-party trackers embedded in the website” (Peck) So not only are search engines like Google used to collect data, but also the wifi being used, web browsers, websites clicked on, and whatever may be on those websites. Most are oblivious that their data is being used by so many corporations and that these corporations use this data in whatever way they think is best. 73% of people are opposed to this reality yet nothing seems to be done to change it because “Contrary to popular belief, there is no specific "right to privacy" guaranteed by the US Constitution” (Point). People use the right to liberty to justify the idea of a ‘right to privacy’ but this right needs to be defined in order to begin to have a real privacy.
Multifunctional applications that make life even easier, are used search the internet but can also be used store information. Once again, Google is the biggest corporation where people store their personal information willingly. When using Google’s popular features like Google Photos, Google Docs, Gmail, and Google maps, people allow them to know more sensitive information than the people they are closest to. The Google Map feature, which could be seen as harmless because of its convenience, allows the world and companies to know where you are at all times. Who else is able to know that? And storing personal information on these apps puts people at risk of their credit card numbers, or even identities being stolen (Myhre). But once again, why do we allow this? Because we have been told that these resources are made to help, not to harm, but often times they do just that without people even knowing. Salam says that, “while Google's privacy policy does not explicitly say that it scans files in Google Docs, it does say that it collects information from ‘Gmail messages, G+ profile, photos, videos, browsing history, map searches, docs or other Google-hosted content’”. A glitch that occured within Google Docs locked out it’s users because it said their ‘terms of service had been violated’ which reminded users how they had agreed to share these documents so they are not even theirs anymore. Because of this, she says it would be wise not to use Google Docs for everything since highly sensitive information could be recorded. The same author even says that we allow situations like this to happen because we are agreeing to something we have never read so that we can use tools that ‘help us’ (Salam).
People allowing technology like search engines and smartphone applications into their lives hinders their privacy without them even knowing its happening. The convenience that comes with this technology is what causes people to become blindsighted to what is happening with their information. Before marking ‘I agree to the terms and conditions’, serious thought needs to be put into what is being agreed upon. Without the care to even know how privacy is being invaded, people will never be able to protect their privacy or even have privacy to begin with.