Why your privacy concerns are misplaced

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[Commentary] Outside of completely unplugging from the grid, there really is no way to avoid being a beacon of personal data for services that feed off of the minute details of your life.

As an unintended side effect, unplugging may even make ourselves more conspicuous. After all, many of the top names on the National Security Agency's suspect list are culled from the ranks of people who are habitually overcautious about leaving any trace. The year is 2014, and dissolving your digital footprint is no longer a practical option.

An informed public needs to ensure that personal data is handled responsibly by demanding that companies have the following protocols in place: 1) clear information on the way personal data is used (i.e. not buried in the Terms of Agreement), 2) a cohesive plan if a privacy infraction occurs, and 3) engineers that are up to speed on the latest security standards.

If a company fails to acquiesce to these demands, then users must take a step back and balance their privacy concerns with the novelty and utility the service provides. By fighting for transparency and remaining vigilant, we can reap the benefits of the personal data economy -- without ever having to take a step off the grid.

[Tuttle is CEO of Expect Labs]


Why your privacy concerns are misplaced