Who should control your identity?

CULTURE & SOCIETY

by THE OLBIOS TEAM

Today, private companies are tracking as many of our movements as they can online, selling that information to other companies that, in turn, share it with law enforcement and the government. The technology they use to do this tracking is advancing rapidly and has become highly sophisticated; meaning that individuals have little chance to take the complex steps necessary to prevent this spying. As stewards of our digital lives, companies are the first line of defense when it comes to keeping private information private. Most urgently, companies should advocate for an update to the outdated Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), which was passed in before the Internet, as we know it today, even existed (1986). Internet users around the world shouldn’t have to choose between new technology and keeping their personal information private. Protections for online privacy are justified and necessary, and the government must help draw boundaries to ensure that everyone’s privacy stays intact in the Digital Age. A 2010 action – “Modernize Our Privacy Law!” – asked everyone to join them in asking Congress to modernize electronic privacy laws. They argue that the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), which should safeguard electronic communications records (like our email or chat logs), as well the information you share with companies, is in serious need of an update. They believe the government should have to go to a judge and get a warrant before it can read your email, browse through your social networking account, or track your location.

 

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