The first-ever Annual Consumer Creep-o-Meter by Mozilla has exposed the ugly truth about the state of digital privacy in 2023: it is very creepy. While there is an improvement in product security, a disconcerting trend shows that companies are collecting and sharing personal data more than ever before, often for targeted advertising and AI training. For instance, the mental health app BetterHelp shares user data with advertisers and social media platforms, while Nissan collects a wide range of personal information, including sexual activity and genetic data, without specifying how it is used. Moreover, the increasing number of connected devices that require apps and cannot be used offline makes it harder to keep personal data private.
Privacy policies also fall short of expectations, characterized by legalese, ambiguity, sprawled documents, and URLs that serve as shields for companies rather than resources for consumers. Toyota, for example, has over 10 privacy policy documents, and it would take five hours to read all the privacy documents for the Meta Quest Pro VR headset. To navigate this creepy digital landscape, Mozilla advises consumers to opt-out of data collection whenever possible, enable security features, and refrain from buying products with questionable privacy practices. They also emphasize the importance of speaking up and demanding privacy from companies, citing Apple’s response to app tracking reform and Zoom’s addition of end-to-end encryption as examples of consumer demand influencing privacy improvements.
Mozilla’s website offers a quiz that calculates an individual’s privacy footprint by considering their use of consumer tech products like the Apple Watch, Nintendo Switch, Nook, or Telegram. The highest marks are given to privacy-protecting products such as Signal, Sonos’ SL Speakers, and the Pocketbook eReader. However, the review conducted by Mozilla finds that no cars met their privacy and security standards. The graphics on the website further underscore the message, as cartoon eyes follow the movement of the mouse cursor. The Annual Consumer Creep-o-Meter highlights the urgent need for stronger digital privacy protections and encourages consumers to be vigilant and informed in their choices to safeguard their personal information.
