An editorial in New York Times titled “Protecting online privacy” (2010) addresses the concerns that the observed increase in online information sharing with little regulation introduced into the target setting is likely to entail. Namely, with a rapid increase in the popularity of online tools in every domain of people’s lives, including not only social interactions, but also business and education, the issue of online privacy management and protection of online users has become drastically important. Though the editorial was published quite a while ago, the issues that it raises are still relevant and, therefore, they still resonate with me as an active user of online spaces.
The article promotes the idea of organizations using their customers’ personal information sparingly, maintaining proper levels of customer safety. Specifically, the issue of collecting information that provides insights into users’ interests and needs is rendered in the article. The editorial offers a balanced perspective and suggests compromising by allowing companies to collect the data that is vital of advertising, while respecting customer’s’ privacy (“Protecting online privacy,” 2010). In retrospect, the proposed solution is quite sensible, yet the more recent developments in e-commerce indicate that the importance of maintaining presence in the global market overpowers the concern for users’ privacy.
Despite the article having been published in 2010, it still encompasses the core issues associated with online privacy. Thus, as a frequent user of online tools and services, I have connected immediately to the author’s ideas and core message. Specifically, the issue of personal data tracking, which has become an inseparable part of using the Internet, raises a number of concerns for me. Specifically, I feel that large companies such as Google using people’s personal information such as browsing history in order to promote their products more effectively minimizes the extent of trust. Thus, the issue of personal data tracking and collection needs to be addressed in law, setting more rigid standards for personal information security.
Reference
Protecting online privacy. (2010). New York Times. Web.