Valuing choice, when it comes to privacy.

Technology is both incredible and incredibly complicated. It has brought about self-driving cars, home speakers you can chat with, and the ability to access information anywhere, at any time. Just thirty years ago, all this was sci-fi.

But these developments have come at a cost. Nowadays, it’s normal for Big Tech Companies to collect our private information to quench their thirst for Big Data. We’ve seen with Yahoo, Facebook, Marriott and the list goes on, how vulnerable that information can be.

But the security isn’t even the biggest question: Why do they need all our personal details anyway?

They want our data, because, knowledge is power.

By collecting all your private data, companies and governments are becoming powerful to the extent that they virtually own you. And this might turn out to be very harmful to us.

Big Data creates a huge advantage for companies in doing business with you. For example, by analyzing social posts, Big Data technology filters for those who are slightly depressed. Why? Because slightly depressed people tend to hit the “buy” button faster… It’s clear that your interest is not always the interest of businesses collecting your data.

At Startpage, the world’s most private search engine, we love tech and value choice. In fact, Startpage’s 3rd company value, following True Privacy and The Best Results is Choice. Meaning we are driven by the passion for true privacy to be a choice, and not something you need to give up in order to access technology and the web.

But we also believe that we shouldn’t let the balance of power tilt too much in favor of corporations and governments. Big companies and governments should leave your data alone, unless you consciously decide to give them access.

That’s why we’re developing tools that help you control the personal information you decide to share online or not.

Startpage is the first-ever private search engine that does not collect store nor share personal data, while delivering Google results. We offer anyone in the world the choice to not share their personal data when searching the internet.

You can start searching in private at Startpage.com or install our privates search browser extension at https://add.startpage.com/.

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