The episode of Fresh Air discusses the growing concerns around data privacy, particularly how big tech companies like Meta and Google harvest user data. Joseph Turow, an expert from the University of Pennsylvania, points out that many users bypass reading terms and conditions, leading to unawareness about extensive data collection. With advancements in AI, companies can predict user behavior and target ads accordingly. This data-driven economy raises critical questions about privacy and consumer rights as users remain largely uninformed about who has access to their data and how it is used.
A 2019 Pew study found only 9% of people actually read the terms and conditions when they share personal information online, sign up for a new account, or download a new app.
Companies can now harness artificial intelligence to anticipate your behavior and send you targeted content, leading to sophisticated data harvesting.
Tech companies have millions of data points on their users - and the business of buying and selling your data is a lucrative one.
Joseph Turow highlights the importance of understanding how marketers exploit personal data to affect consumer behavior and privacy.
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