Privacy and You

 

Living a private life is a difficult choice in today's society where social media and the internet are being utilized every second of the day. Metadata is constantly being collected based on what articles you read and what links you click. Providing a digital snapshot of you and your online interests and hobbies. A recent article from Simon Kemp on Data Reportal states that a typical internet user spends almost 2 and a half hours on social media platforms per day. At an average of 143 minutes per day, per user, the world spends 720 billion minutes per day using social platforms. Over a full year, that adds up to more than 260 trillion minutes, or 500 million years of collective human time. (Kemp, 2024)

Photo Source: Data Reportal

That is a lot of our time on social media platforms but the real topic of privacy starts before you even finalize creating your account with the provider's Terms of Service. Terms of Service are an agreement between you the user, and the service provider. These can be legally binding and shocking if you do not read the fine print. The app makers know better than to bold anything or make anything clear — especially about how your actions will morph into marketing metadata, sprinkling a trail of “cookies” behind you. (Zomorodi, 2017) Ultimately, the question is, how badly do you want to use their site or platform and do you understand the data you are giving away when agreeing to their Terms of Service?

In a Pew Research Center study based on a survey of 461 U.S. adults and nine online focus groups of 80 people finds that there are a variety of circumstances under which many Americans would share personal information or permit surveillance in return for getting something of perceived value. While many Americans are willing to share personal information in exchange for tangible benefits, they are often cautious about disclosing their information and frequently unhappy about what happens to that information once companies have collected it. (Rainie & Duggan, 2016) Many times how organizations plan to use their data is outlined in a Terms of Service agreement, a privacy policy, or a confidentiality policy. Sure, it may seem easier to just scroll to the bottom and hit accept, but do you really know and understand what you are agreeing to and where this data is going next?

When doing a review of the Terms of Service for popular streaming service, Twitch, I discovered there are many phrases buried within the agreement that could cause concern for users and raises the question of if they know what they are truly signing up for when agreeing to use this platform. It includes quotes like, "All Materials are the property of Twitch or its subsidiaries or affiliated companies and/or third-party licensors" and "Your use of the Twitch Services is at your own risk." These small statements can easily be missed if a user is skimming the Terms of Service and could be used later to solely benefit Twitch without providing reparation to the creator of that content.

Privacy in Libraries

Libraries in the United States actively work to provide privacy to their users. The American Library Association (ALA) which many libraries use as a tool and guide when writing policies believe library users have the right to privacy, freedom to read, and freedom to view materials they choose without repercussions. All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. When users recognize or fear that their privacy or confidentiality is compromised, true freedom of inquiry no longer exists. Privacy is essential to free inquiry in the library because it enables library users to select, access, and consider information and ideas without fear of embarrassment, judgment, punishment, or ostracism. (ALA, 2021) Users should not have fear that if they access something for personal, professional, or academic reference that it would be shared to other organizations, third-parties, or even law enforcement without going through proper channels supported by law.

Photo Source: ALA Advocacy/Privacy

Many libraries have privacy policies that their users can reference on their websites. Privacy policies are like Terms of Service agreements, they vary by company or organization. Some libraries combine their policies on privacy and confidentiality and some keep them separate. When using a public entity like a library it is important to know what rights you have and how these rights are being protected. 

It is important to note that libraries do use third-party providers to support their users and provide them access to resources and databases. Oak Park Public Library does a great job listing the Third-Parties they use in their Data Privacy policy. Naperville Public Library mentions the use of Third-Parties in their Confidentiality and Privacy policy and encourages their users to read through the provider's Terms of Service or Conditions before using them. Aurora Public Library mentions in their Privacy Notice that they use a Third-Party they may share users data with to retrieve fines and fees. They also mention that there may be links to outside organizations which they do not control the content, claiming it does not mean they endorse the content on the external site. These warnings are helpful to users but it is still up to the individual to ensure they are doing their due diligence prior to using these providers.

Conclusion

Not everyone on the internet or mobile apps are out to get you, but it is important to read the fine print for users to understand how their data is being collected, stored, and used. Companies and providers tend to make these mandatory prior to you using their sites or content. It is up to the user to take the time to read through, ask questions, and seek answers before they blindly agree to use a service or provider. By thoroughly reading these Policies, Terms of Service and/or Conditions a user can make an educated decision on if this aligns to how they would like their data collected, stored, and used.

References:

ALA. (2021). Privacy. ALA

ALA. (2019). Privacy: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights. ALA.

Aurora Public Library. (n/d). Privacy Notice. Aurora Public Library.

Kemp, S. (2024). The Time We Spend on Social Media. Data Reportal.

Naperville Public Library. (2023). Confidentiality and Privacy Policy. Naperville Public Library.

Oak Park Public Library. (n/d). Data Privacy. Oak Park Public Library.

Rainie, L. & Duggan, M. (2016). Privacy and Information Sharing. Pew Research Center.

Twitch. (2023). Terms of Service. Twitch Interactive, Inc.

Zomorodi, M. (2017). Do You Know How Much Private Information You Give Away Every Day?. Time.