Week 10 Response -- Google and Private Information: Where to Draw the Line

in #gradnium2 years ago

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@nsiske asked, "Do you think regulation needs to exist to regulate how much data Google can collect, and/or even sell?"

I often forget that Google has access to a large amount of my personal information, including what I buy, what I'm interested in, and even where I live. I'm not really paranoid about it, but it definitely makes me question whether Google's business practices are ethical. Google is, at heart, an advertisement company, so having as much data about as many internet users as possible allows them to gear and personalize their ads to best meet peoples' interests. Their insane budget and data collection skills allows them to have powers in other areas than advertisement, such as navigation through Google maps. But do they really need to know what my voice sounds like and how many siblings I have?

It is reasonable to say that Google has crossed a few lines, but it's hard to know where to draw them. After all, isn't it us, the users, who agree to Google's data collection terms when we use their web browser, upload images to Google drive, and watch YouTube? A response to Google's copious data collection could be to stop using Google's services for good, but how can we keep ourselves from utilizing Google's highly practical services?

Yes, I think that a lot of Google's services are wonderful, but I don't think they should be allowed to gain access to highly personal information, such as what a person looks or sounds like or where a person lives. Those personal things should be left alone to be shared naturally with loved ones and friends. Then, to me, the most recent YouTube video I watched and the kinds of clothes I like to wear are fair game. That kind of information isn't that personal, and it can be used to make Google's advertisements more suitable for me (if I even want to see ads while I'm watching YouTube, and I don't).

In summation, I think it should be illegal for Google to collect highly personal information, but less personal information, such as clothing preferences, are OK for them to have access to and sell.