Someone's always watching you online
How companies buy and sell your personal information
Unit 3 Reading 1
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1Did you know that when you surf the web, websites in some countries put secret software on your computer? The software collects a large amount of information about you and sends it to internet companies. The internet companies sell it to other businesses. Your personal information can also be gathered from social media sites. There are many ways your information can be used.
2First, companies collect your information and record all your online habits. They find out where you live, what websites you visit and what you do online. With this information, they can guess other things about you. For example, they can guess if you are male or female, how old you are and your interests. The companies use this information to decide which adverts are best for you. Two people can go to the same website, but they will see different adverts. For example, someone who likes sports could see an advert for trainers, and someone who likes films might see an advert for a film.
3Your personal information could also be sold. Some companies collect information just so they can sell it to other businesses. A business that collects and sells personal information is called a data broker. When data brokers sell your information, a lot of different companies will know your online habits. Then these companies will advertise products or other websites to you.
4Another way your personal information can be collected is through social media. When your information is on social media, a lot of people can see it. Even if you don't use social media, a friend might post a picture or video of you with your name on it. Pictures and videos can be shared for free on social media, which is one of the great advantages. However, that same act of sharing could be a problem for your own security. If someone knows too much about you, they can steal your identity. Then they can buy things online and post messages while pretending to be you.
5However, it's not all bad news. The law is finally changing when it comes to technology. In the European Union, for example, they have introduced the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This rule means that internet users can now ask companies to show them what information they have about them and even make them delete it. If other countries do the same, the internet could soon be a much safer place.