A bit about how your personal data is collected
"Data brokers do not obtain this data directly from consumers, and consumers are thus largely unaware that data brokers are collecting and using this information. While each data broker source may provide only a few data elements abouta consumer’s activities, data brokers can put all of these data elements together to form a more detailed composite of the consumer’s life."
-FTC, 2014. "Data Brokers, A Call for Transparency and Accountability"
Sometimes when describing the nature of the Surviellence Economy, people say: 'really, is it a problem?'
We say: Don't take our word for it. Take it from the United States Government.
The Federal Trade Commission published a report that describes the problem in great detail.
Notice that this report was published in 2014. Yeah, 2014. Back then, we thought it might be a wake up call and that things might change.
The opposite happened. The problem has only gotten worse. In fact, the Data Broker industry has grown dramatically.
There are least a thousand of companies out there that you'd call a 'data broker'.
Some estimate the data broker industry to be valued at over $250 Billion.
It's big business and a lot of money is being made off of our personal data. Shouldn't we be paid that money instead of the companies who spy on us for our data?
Anyway, back to 2014.
Some selected parts of the report helps visualize what is going on.
This is a really big complicated topic. We encourage you to read the report, but most of us don't have that much time on our hands. Here are the TL;DR parts that help tell the story.
A high level view of data collection
How Consumer Databases & Profiles Get Compiled
Selling & Sharing Data with Companies Who Want Consumer Data
A high level view of who buys your data
Some Key Summary Findings and Recommendations of the Report
1. Characteristics of the Industry
Data Brokers Collect Consumer Data from Numerous Sources, Largely Without Consumers’ Knowledge
The Data Broker Industry is Complex, with Multiple Layers of Data Brokers Providing Data to Each Other
Data Brokers Collect and Store Billions of Data Elements Covering Nearly Every U.S. Consumer
Data Brokers Combine and Analyze Data About Consumers to Make Inferences About Them, Including Potentially Sensitive Inferences
Data Brokers Combine Online and Offline Data to Market to Consumers Online
2. Benefits and Risks
Data Brokers Combine Online and Offline Data to Market to Consumers Online
Consumers Benefit from Many of the Purposes for Which Data Brokers Collect and Use Data
At the Same Time, Many of the Purposes for Which Data Brokers Collect and Use Data Pose Risks to Consumers
Storing Data About Consumers Indefinitely May Create Security Risks
3. Consumer Choice
To the Extent Data Brokers Offer Consumers Choices About Their Data, the Choices are Largely Invisible and Incomplete
Source: FTC, 2014. "Data Brokers, A Call for Transparency and Accountability", pages 46-48
