Why Digital Privacy Matters

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As technology has advanced, it's become easier for companies and hackers to collect and use our personal information. That's why digital privacy is so important. We need to be in control of our personal data to protect ourselves from people who might use it for bad things.

Protecting our online privacy is also important for our freedom of speech and our personal relationships. When we share information about ourselves and our loved ones online, advertisers, hackers, or even governments could use that information to do bad things.

There have been cases where smart devices, like Amazon's Alexa or Google Home, have collected and stored data without our permission. This raises concerns about how companies might use this data and how secure these devices are from hackers.

There have also been high-profile cases where digital privacy has been compromised. The Equifax data breach in 2017 exposed the personal information of 149 Million people with information including names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, and addresses. The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018 showed how personal data can be used for political advertising without our consent.

Big companies like Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google have access to a lot of personal data. While they have safeguards to protect this data, there are still worries about how they might abuse it.

To protect our online privacy, we should use strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, limit personal data sharing, and consider using privacy-enhancing tools such as ad-blockers, VPNs, and free and open-source software (FOSS). We should research and choose reputable providers that align with our privacy goals and stay informed about data breaches and privacy scandals. By taking these steps, we can better protect our online privacy and reduce our exposure to potential privacy violations.