This petition springs from my profound concern for the pervasive intrusion of our privacy by big technology companies. These giants mint millions by exploiting our personal data, which is peddled to any entity willing to pay for it, raising concerns about consent and monetization of our private information.
Children under 18 are particularly at risk, as they may not fully grasp the implications of their data being exploited in this way. In fact, according to The Guardian, 7 out of 10 teenagers do not understand the terms and conditions of social media platforms, revealing a vast disconnect between data collection practices and their victims. It is morally imperative, therefore, to prohibit data collection from individuals under 18. Here, we demand a shift in policy that protects our minors.
Moreover, the process for adults to opt out of their data being collected is far from simple or intuitive, impeding the rights of individuals to maintain their privacy. I advocate for a more accessible “opt-out” system as a deterrent to this rampant exploitation. We must insist tech companies make “Opt-out” the default and make “Opt-In” a truly conscious and deliberate decision.
Furthermore, when adults do opt in for their data to be collected, these tech companies should legally be required to dispense monetary compensation. After all, why not share the profits from such lucrative ventures with the generators of data themselves?
The current status quo is unjustifiable and untenable. It’s time for change to protect our children from predatory data practices and to ensure adults can easily opt out or be rightfully compensated if they so choose. Enact this policy to put people over profits, and privacy over exploitation.