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I asked an online tracking company for all of my data (2018)

privacyinternational.org

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Re: I asked an online tracking company for all of my data (2018)

#51

Post by secondcoming »

upcoming-sesame wrote: post #14
teekert wrote: post #3

This latest trend is so annoying: there is either "Accept" or: "See purpose". And the "Don't accept" stuff is hidden under "See purpose". Infuriating.

The tracking banners frenzy gdpr started is unbearable. It has decreased the usability of the web significantly. Everyone is obsessed with improving page loading time but what does worth that the page loads instantly if I have to navigate a maze of banner consent screens before I can see the content behind it Why can't everyone at least agree on the same banner format / ui or have it delegated to the browser behind s…

Good question. The downvotes are undeserved.

The reason is that if it's done in the browser then a person's preferences will apply to every website they use with that browser. Publishers will not want that as they hope that users will give them more consent than other web sites (I certainly do give some websites full permissions if I like them, others are a 'reject all' and 'object all')

Also, your consent preferences are stored under that website's cookie. There is the option of a global cookie but nobody uses it. This cookie data is then sent to everyone involved in the adtech chain (which is causing issues since it can be multiple KB's in size). It's format is described in [0]

[0] https://github.com/InteractiveAdvertisingBureau/GDPR-Transpa...

Re: I asked an online tracking company for all of my data (2018)

#52

Post by ClikeX »

chopin wrote: post #9

It'd be useful if the author revealed how she managed to obtain her data. I am pretty sure that a request with just your real name wouldn't reveal much. I assume that most data is collected under some identifier which isn't matched to your real name in order to thwart this kind of request.

I usually just email the company from the same email adress that is in my account. Just say that by GDPR guidelines you would like to see your data.

I've only done this for deletion of data by the way.

Re: I asked an online tracking company for all of my data (2018)

#53

Post by snicky »

teekert wrote: post #3

This latest trend is so annoying: there is either "Accept" or: "See purpose". And the "Don't accept" stuff is hidden under "See purpose". Infuriating.

I'm wondering if enforcing this on the browser level wouldn't make more sense. I mean, if a site use cookies or wants to track you in any other ways it would have to ask for your permission the same way you are asked before accessing your camera or microphone. You could opt-in or opt-out which should be the default if you don't make any choice. Then the sites would have to clearly stop you from accessing their content if you didn't opt-in, the same way you are stopped with paywalls. I think this would be much more transparent if we really want to teach people that they can pay for the content either with their money or their data. Of course another choice would be to just avoid these sites whatsoever.

Re: I asked an online tracking company for all of my data (2018)

#54

Post by ClikeX »

12xo wrote: post #24

The personal data industry is truly disgusting but the really funny thing is that most of the data is actually worthless. Its collected only because it can be. Not because its valuable or worthwhile. These companies are basically hoarders. Hoarders that rummage through your trash and spy on you from afar. They are awful, the business is awful and is a viable case of "just because you can, should you?"

Individual data is useless, but big data is worth gold. It can show you exactly where your target audiance is, and what they're common interests are. That's super valuable information if you want to start ad campaigns.

Re: I asked an online tracking company for all of my data (2018)

#55

Post by amarka »

12xo wrote: post #24

The personal data industry is truly disgusting but the really funny thing is that most of the data is actually worthless. Its collected only because it can be. Not because its valuable or worthwhile. These companies are basically hoarders. Hoarders that rummage through your trash and spy on you from afar. They are awful, the business is awful and is a viable case of "just because you can, should you?"

Indeed it's totally worthless data, like what are you going to do, dissect people into groups that you could heavily target and try to sell them gizmos or swing an election? Pfft, not worth the effort. There are no companies or state actors are into that kind of thing.

Re: I asked an online tracking company for all of my data (2018)

#56

Post by supahfly_remix »

spartas wrote: post #8
supahfly_remix wrote: post #7

How does one get this data? I skimmed the article but didn't see how I could make a request.

Like many data-collection companies, unless you live in the European Economic Area or the state of California, you are not allowed to see the data about yourself that these companies are collecting https://www.quantcast.com/privacy/data-subject-rights/

I see. Thanks for replying.

Re: I asked an online tracking company for all of my data (2018)

#57

Post by dylan604 »

chopin wrote: post #9

It'd be useful if the author revealed how she managed to obtain her data. I am pretty sure that a request with just your real name wouldn't reveal much. I assume that most data is collected under some identifier which isn't matched to your real name in order to thwart this kind of request.

In your request, let them know that you are specifically wanting to see what data they have that needs to be updated/corrected. Let them know that the ads you are getting are currently not working, and you are only wanting to help them fix the problem.

Re: I asked an online tracking company for all of my data (2018)

#58

Post by enriquec »

lmkg wrote: post #19
jjulius wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately, it's compatible until the EU decides to hold people accountable for it.

Not even the EU as a whole, it's up to the individual regulators in each country. On a related note: Since most US companies base their EU subsidiaries in Ireland for tax purposes, it's actually just up to the Irish regulator. There are... concerns.

Individual freedom and sovereignty are always pesky nuisances for foolish centralized schemes.

Re: I asked an online tracking company for all of my data (2018)

#59

Post by gverrilla »

As a customer I would give them all info they need if they paid be a small sum compared to what they spend with absurd technologies and time. Maybe it would even make their product cheaper, increasing demand and further developing the economy! I mean: in theory, if they target us better, it would be cheaper to market, therefore allowing smaller prices - right !? Most people don't outright say it, but we're not only being spied: we pay for it. And most people are subject to a true hostage situation refered to as employment/salary. This is all abusive, and the worst part of it is that it's self-inflicted. The whole privacy thing, including the privacy-paranoia refers to a serious collective health issue. "Because the quest for profit makes men into predatory, insensitive and stupid brutes."

Re: I asked an online tracking company for all of my data (2018)

#60

Post by hughw »

gverrilla wrote: post #59

As a customer I would give them all info they need if they paid be a small sum compared to what they spend with absurd technologies and time. Maybe it would even make their product cheaper, increasing demand and further developing the economy! I mean: in theory, if they target us better, it would be cheaper to market, therefore allowing smaller prices - right !? Most people don't outright say it, but we're not only b…

Do you really want them to be able sell information about you like "Heavy home alcohol purchaser" to whoever pays them?
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