We live in unprecedented times, where the world is a global village. You can video call someone in a different continent and have a conversation with one click on your phone. In one click, you can post a video that has the potential to reach millions. With one click, you can send cash to your mother in the village back home.
Our ancestors, especially here in the Global South would be impressed by the technological advancements we have made as a people. However, this preferment has come at a hidden cost – the invasion of privacy, discrimination, and even our mental health. This is because the industry’s economic success is rooted in its virtually unrestrained monetization of consumer surveillance.
In this edition, I want to express my opinions and hopefully spark a conversation on how big tech companies are making millions of dollars by selling our data to third parties right under our noses. For example, Meta is estimated to have raked in over 100 billion dollars in the past year. How did they earn it? Advertising.
The business model that big tech companies use is selling advertisement spaces on their various platforms. Have you ever been in this situation: you search for a product online and swiftly start seeing ads for the product on different platforms? Don’t worry, you and millions have the same experience. This is because these companies are surveilling every keystroke, every like, comment, and watch-time you have online.
Interestingly, this is “fairly” legal because we agree to the terms and conditions of these apps and websites without going through them. If you try to read them, they are written in jargon that is not easy to comprehend and it takes a while before you finish reading.
The system, or should I say the algorithm is rigged. For an effective understanding of your behavioral habits and psychology, these companies need you to spend more time on their apps/sites. A quick look at your screen time average will give you extravagant insight into how they have hacked this. From the infinite “doom scroll” on TikTok to the click-sounds on Messenger, these companies have invested and comprehended what it takes for you to linger on their platforms.
Another key issue is the level of privacy we are willing to share as netizens. In a world where cybercrime and online harassment are at their zenith, the masses are still aloof of the privacy issues involved as internet users. A good example is the majority of social media platforms and dating sites require their users to grant access to their locations and media files. While this is not a necessity for using the platforms, the platforms highlight them as salient for a “better experience.”
Despite concerted efforts by Big Tech companies to protect their users’ data from the State and other third parties, there is concern about how we perceive individual data privacy. Susan Perry and Claudia Roda in their book “Human Rights and Digital Technology: Digital Tightrope” canvas this problem through statements we make as netizens:
We often say “I do not need to protect my privacy, because I have nothing to hide.” “I don’t need extra protection, because I know how to protect my privacy.” “I need to use this tool, so I am willing to give my privacy…”
These anecdotes emphasize the lack of awareness of our digital rights which means we cannot hold Big Tech accountable.
In closing, while the technological advancements of our era have undoubtedly connected us in unprecedented ways, they have also exposed us to a myriad of challenges, particularly concerning privacy and data exploitation by big tech companies.
It’s essential that we, as a global community, engage in critical conversations about the ethical implications of these practices and advocate for stronger protections of our digital rights. Only through raising awareness, demanding transparency, and holding these companies accountable can we strive towards a more equitable and secure digital landscape for future generations.