Blog: Privacy

     For all the great uses and perks of new media, privacy may well be the biggest issue that bedevils it. It is simply a huge issue. New media companies collect, store and monetize troves of consumer data. This almost monopoly of consumer data by new media firms certainly in most recent times raises the debate about data privacy and confidentiality. 

     This discussion is had as a result of users willingly allowing companies (think of Social Media/Networking sites like Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Instagram, Snapchat, etc). The big debate surrounding this topic is that while people willingly give consent to these online sites, they have no clue how their data is being used or who else has access to it.

The most recent case, one with a huge international backlash involved the online Social Networking site, Facebook. The uproar gave insights into how big privacy of user data is and confidentiality surrounding its use is to both lawmakers and to individual users. 

     I presume this is because as new media firms take most of the world's population by storm -- and the fact that this is just as likely to be the way of the future, the debate has to be had about it. This strikes as not surprising with clear interest from all stakeholders to police and punish new media companies who run foul of privacy standards and confidentiality.