I feel that giving personal information on the internet is inevitable, but I feel that users should have the power to determine what information is shared about their identity. The 21st century demands that we have an internet presence, it’s becoming the norm. The information that could be shareable, at least when consent is given from the user, would be things like Facebook Profiles, Twitter Posts, LinkedIn Profiles, etc. But with limitations, such as keeping private messages and personal contact information confidential.
The way the internet is run now, the many of the sites we use claim ownership to the information that we willing supply. While I do agree that people are willing giving away their information, I believe that what is being done with their information should be easily accessible and comprehensive to the user. The key word there is “comprehensive.” Much of the reason these companies can get away with misuse of user data is that their Terms & Conditions are an ‘unreadable’ mass of text that is written in a more legal language that can confuse an unknowing user.
I feel that the user should still hold the right to own the information that they share on the internet. There is a very big difference between sharing and giving away in terms of property. I believe one of the best ways for these policies to change would be for the users to join together and demand a change. It’s very hard to make money off of a ‘production’ that refuses to make new content.
I really enjoyed the idea of search engines that respect their users. I personally use DuckDuckGo, the search engine that was mentioned by Molly Wood. It was odd to adjust to their system, but no that I’ve gotten used it it’s wonderful. Privacy has become a big part of my use of the internet and it is a great tool to have. The results that you get when you search aren’t in order of “clicks” or “pay to be on top.” Occasionally there are advertisements, but they are broad and pertain to your search rather than being targeted by person. If I searched shoes on DDG I could get an ad for shoes (clearly marked inside a colored box,) but if I did the same search on a more popular search engine, such as Google, I would most likely get a bunch of ads on the side.
One thing that came to mind while watching the documentary was a new format for the Terms & Conditions that would be friendly to users and possibly encourage reading at least the more important aspects. I feel it should be put into a drop down menu format. Would you rather read:
Terms & Conditions:
Awneoiwf fhweub wehwewejhfb ewfbewf saiufb fifbewq ewewewrbweqr werq f er ty ry fdewf effiuewfiuhwef iuhfuhfoewnfo ewuiehwruhewrui ewruihewrods ioajdfogidf erihreiug ergiuhegkjg fiuhefiuhewr efiuhefiuhefn feiufieufh riuhrihriuhqr ew uiehwriuheqr ewriuhewrdkjaskjf irutehqritqrkthrwf fihfewiuhfiuhewf efihefiuhef efhfhf.
We ndfooifewo ewfnewfoinewf ewfoiewfoiewf weofijwefojewfefoewfoewf ewfoijewfoijef oewfewfnewofinwef wefnwefoinewf wefndfkjbsdkjafbiuoew ewfbwef ewqfbewf ewqfbwef wefiubewfjd iwfhiuhqwef wfqliuwfiuweqf wefwefiewhfihwef wfiuhewiufhwef ewfiuhwefiewf fweewfuhewfi ewiufewfewiufewuif wfegewfgweeqwiuwef.
We ndfooifewo ewfnewfoinewf ewfoiewfoiewf weofijwefojewfefoewfoewf ewfoijewfoijef oewfewfnewofinwef wefnwefoinewf wefndfkjbsdkjafbiuoew ewfbwef ewqfbewf ewqfbwef wefiubewfjd iwfhiuhqwef wfqliuwfiuweqf wefwefiewhfihwef wfiuhewiufhwef ewfiuhwefiewf fweewfuhewfi ewiufewfewiufewuif wfegewfgweeqwiuwef.
Or
Terms & Conditions:
\/ Policy .
We ndfooifewo ewfnewfoinewf ewfoiewfoiewf weofijwefojewfefoewfoewf ewfoijewfoijef oewfewfnewofinwef wefnwefoinewf wefndfkjbsdkjafbiuoew ewfbwef ewqfbewf ewqfbwef wefiubewfjd iwfhiuhqwef wfqliuwfiuweqf wefwefiewhfihwef wfiuhewiufhwef ewfiuhwefiewf fweewfuhewfi ewiufewfewiufewuif wfegewfgweeqwiuwef.
Awneoiwf fhweub wehwewejhfb ewfbewf saiufb fifbewq ewewewrbweqr werq f er ty ry fdewf effiuewfiuhwef iuhfuhfoewnfo ewuiehwruhewrui ewruihewrods ioajdfogidf erihreiug ergiuhegkjg fiuhefiuhewr efiuhefiuhefn feiufieufh riuhrihriuhqr ew uiehwriuheqr ewriuhewrdkjaskjf irutehqritqrkthrwf fihfewiuhfiuhewf efihefiuhef efhfhf.
> Security .
> Liability .
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
If the terms for formatted in a friendlier manner it would be possible for users to actually read them and see if they actually agree. Personally I feel a change like this will never happen. Online companies rely on the intimidating text of their terms in order to get away with owning and selling user data in what ever way they want.
Below are the results from my search of "shoes" on both DDG compared to Google.
