Disruptions: And the Privacy Gaps Just Keep On Coming

Whose fault is all of this? We can’t just point fingers at the companies that make iPhones, apps, social networking services and Web sites — although there are a lot of fingers that can be aimed in their direction. We’re all somewhat to blame.

The argument that if consumers care about their privacy they shouldn’t use these technologies is a cop-out. This technology is now completely woven into every part of society and business. We didn’t tell people who wanted safer cars simply not to drive. We made safer cars. Well, safety advocates, consumers and the government dragged the automobile industry toward including seat belts, air bags, more visible taillights and other safety features. Christopher N. Olsen, assistant director in the division of privacy and identity protection at the Federal Trade Commission, expects that as the privacy violations pile up, Congress could enact laws to protect consumers. “Industry should redouble its efforts to focus on privacy issues, or they may face additional pressure in form of legislation from Congress,” he said. Such legislation would not be ideal for anyone. As technology companies rightly argue, more legislation and regulation stifle innovation. But the current system of self-regulation is clearly not working. “The FTC has been very active on the enforcement front; we’ve recently entered into consent decrees with large companies like Facebook and Google, and we have pushed other companies too,” Olsen said.