Hyper-connected world means everything is always available at your fingertips.
Ordering online. Social media. Smart houses. It’s all at your disposal. The only problem is that your privacy is starting to slip away with each click.
92% of Americans are concerned about their privacy when using the Internet.
That is a vast majority of people who feel like their personal data is at risk.And you know what? They’re right.
What you’ll discover:
- The Real Cost Of Living A Connected Lifestyle
- Why Your Digital Footprint Is Bigger Than You Think
- The Right To Be Forgotten: What It Means For You
- Taking Control Of Your Privacy
The Real Cost Of Living A Connected Lifestyle
Ever wonder what’s going on with your data?
Every app, website, and IoT device you use collects data about your habits, interests, and behaviour. This data is then stored, analysed and sold to third parties without you even knowing.
It’s not just for targeted advertising any more.
Names, email addresses and sensitive personal information end up in third-party databases with hundreds of other companies having access to this information. And when data leaks happen, they become public.
Hyper-connected lifestyle means we’re constantly connected to services, apps and technology that promise to make our lives easier. But at what cost? Is your privacy a small price to pay?
Why Your Digital Footprint Is Bigger Than You Think
Did you know everything you do online creates a permanent record?
Old social media posts, news articles, public records, all of these stay accessible through search engines for years.
And that’s a problem when you don’t want everything about your past to be available online forever.73% of consumers are more worried about their data privacy now than a few years ago.
That number will only keep increasing as more and more people realise how much personal information they have floating around online. Just think about it for a second.
- Comments you made years ago on forums
- Photos you uploaded to social media
- Public records of legal issues
- Old blog posts or articles you wrote
This all creates a digital footprint that follows you everywhere online. And deleting it isn’t as simple as just removing a post or account.
The Problem With Outdated Information
The issue here is information that no longer represents you.
Information that was relevant and accurate years ago can still show up in search results. Youthful mistakes, old addresses, or even professional information that’s no longer up to date can linger online.
This is especially the case with news articles and public records. These types of information linger online even after you’ve grown and changed as a person. The real issue is knowing how to remove newspaper articles from search results when you don’t want it to be there anymore.
Right to be forgotten was created to address these kinds of issues… But it isn’t as simple as most people think.
The Right To Be Forgotten: What It Means For You
The right to be forgotten is the legal right to request that certain information be removed from search engine results.
It’s a law that started in Europe with GDPR but has since spread and influenced data protection laws across the world. Google received requests to remove links to about 6.1 million pages between May 2014 and January 2024.
That’s a ton of people fighting to get their privacy back.
But here’s the thing… The right to be forgotten is a powerful concept.
It acknowledges that personal data should not follow a person around forever. People grow and change, circumstances evolve, and outdated information can seriously harm a person’s personal and professional life.
When Can The Right Be Used?
This right to be forgotten can only be used in specific circumstances.
- Data is no longer necessary: If the information is no longer needed for its initial purpose
- Consent withdrawn: If consent was given for data collection but has now been withdrawn
- Unlawful processing: When the data was processed or obtained illegally
- Outdated/ inaccurate information: When search results contain old or no longer accurate information
It’s pretty straight forward right?
But, as always, there are some limitations to this right to be forgotten. If the information is deemed to be in the public interest, required for legal compliance, or is freedom of expression, it can’t be erased. Organisations have to balance individual privacy rights against legitimate reasons for keeping this information public.
Privacy Laws Are Catching Up
Fortunately, there’s some good news here…
By the end of 2024, data protection laws covered 79% of the world’s population. 6.3 billion people across the world have some legal data protection. Governments are starting to take privacy violations against citizens seriously.
We’re starting to see more privacy laws like GDPR in Europe and CCPA in California. These laws force companies to be transparent about how they’re collecting and using personal data.
But here’s the catch, laws aren’t enough.
If you wait for legal action to start happening before taking steps to protect your privacy, you’ve already waited too long. It’s time for people to take control of their data before it’s too late.
Taking Control Of Your Privacy
So, how can people take control of their privacy in an increasingly connected world?
Privacy has to start with being aware of what information is out there and where. The first step is searching for yourself online.
Google your own name. What results pop up? Are there old profiles, articles or public records that no longer represent who you are?
Here are some actionable steps to take back control of your privacy.
- Regularly review privacy settings on social media accounts
- Use privacy-focused search engines and browsers
- Request data deletion from companies that no longer need it
- Regularly search online to monitor your digital footprint
- Invoke the right to be forgotten if applicable
The goal here isn’t to go completely dark on the internet. The internet is too big of a place for that to be a realistic goal. Instead, take control of what information is available about you online. Try and ensure it’s accurate and represents who you are today.
Building Better Digital Habits
Long-term privacy maintenance also means changing the way we engage with the world online.
Think before you share personal information online. Think about if an app really needs access to your location or contacts. Everything you post online can stay there forever, so think before you post.
Be mindful of how we interact with technology now to prevent privacy issues in the future.
Final Thoughts
Privacy in an increasingly connected world is hard.
But it’s not impossible. The choices people make today to protect their privacy are going to impact people’s lives for years to come. Privacy is about understanding your digital rights, taking control of your personal information and building better digital habits for the future.
Privacy doesn’t mean disconnecting from the digital world. Instead, it means interacting with technology on your own terms while also protecting what’s most important. Tools are available and laws are starting to be put into place to protect privacy. Now it’s time for individuals to take the first steps to reclaim privacy in a hyper-connected world.