Opiria & PDATA — If it’s free, you become the product (II)
The platforms you used and shared your data with are so convenient, that they often times do offer some marketplaces, allowing you to do some basic shopping if you see some things you think would improve your life. Maybe you’ll get some percentage off if you share certain orders or if you connect one account to another. Sounds like a great deal for a mere movement of your index finger. By now you have connected several accounts with each other, each one representing one aspect of your life. On one you share what you do on a daily basis through short “tweets”, on another platform you can ‘insta’ntly post your highlights of the day in picture format. One will endlessly supply you with products per mouseclick delivering goods relentlessly; just like a huge river crossing the continent of South America (got it?).
You see, your daily routine and interests as well as your purchases are now set into stone, or better said into huge data centers. Your whole identity will be formed by pieces of information that is gathered over years, ending as a merging character string of zeros and ones in huge data centers that certain entities control.
You know, the “free” usage of certain service providers comes with a price. Not with a monetary price, but with a price. The latest outcry regarding this topic is currently in full force as a type this. Not only 48 hours ago Mark Zuckerberg had to justify himself and his company in front of several senators regarding their current data handling laws.
Even though about 0.05% of the questions got an actual answer, the overall problem is easy to spot: We are a product and we get sold. Our data is being traded by huge entities and they most likely know more about you than your spouse.
And no, even though their service is free, this is not ok.
