It is no secret that if you use Google products – like their search engine, Gmail, Chrome, Drive, Maps and others – Google knows everything about you. They can see all your emails, browsing history and where you have been. It is also no secret that they then sell this information to the advertisers. In fact, in 2011 96% of Google’s revenue was from advertising alone [source]. To make billions by selling your private data for personalized ads they need to continuously collect it. They will even overtly lie to you and steal your data when you think you are browsing in private mode [source].
But Google is not the only company doing this. All of the Big Tech does it, Facebook (who also owns Instagram and WhatsApp) being another prominent example. They want to get as much of your private data as possible, even if it means being unethical. Everyone has heard of the Cambridge Analytica scandal [source], but if you still have any doubts, here are some examples of their practices:
- Facebook employees are reading your private messages [source]
- Facebook employees are listening to your audio messages [source]
- Facebook gave access to your private messages and friends list to large tech companies, retailers, entertainment sites, automakers and media organizations [source]
- Facebook lies about WhatsApp being end-to-end encrypted – moderators can read your messages [source]
- Facebook is globally lobbying against privacy laws [source]
- Facebook was paying 13 years old children to spy on them [source]
- Facebook employees literally say “Fuck ethics. Money is everything.” [source]
There are plenty of similar instances from other tech giants, which is not really a surprise to anyone paying any attention to the news. You are literally the product. That is why even the mainstream media advise you to ditch Chrome, Facebook and others:
- Forbes – Why You Shouldn’t Use Google Chrome After New Privacy Disclosure [source]
- Wired – It’s time to ditch Chrome [source]
- Forbes – Facebook Users Have 3 Superb Reasons To Quit In 2021 [source]
- Tech Republic – Google makes the perfect case for why you shouldn’t use Chrome [source]
- Medium – Why you should immediately stop using Chrome [source]
- Mashable – Here’s why you should finally #DeleteFacebook in 2020 [source]
- Forbes – Why You Should Delete Google Chrome After New Tracking Admission [source]
- Inc. – This Might Be What Finally Makes Me Quit Facebook in 2021 [source]
- Kim Komando – A big reason you should stop using Google Chrome on your smartphone [source]
- CNET – Deactivating your Facebook account isn’t enough. You need to delete it permanently [source]
The conclusion is – by using any Big Tech products you have no privacy and you are giving away your intimate, personal data to be sold to anyone. For a bit of convenience and entertainment.
But advertising companies are not the biggest threat. Governments are also more than interested in reading your private messages or emails – especially if you might say things they do not like. And as Edward Snowden’s disclosures have shown, they already do [source]. Extensive programs like PRISM [source], Tempora [source], MUSCULAR [source] and others prove that governments are willing to put a lot of resources into spying on their citizens. And Big Tech corporations are happily helping them by giving away all your personal data [source]. This is gross violation of your basic civil liberty – the right to privacy.
Of course, the governments hide behind slogans like “national security”, “terrorism” and “child abuse” [“Think of the children!”]. But in practice everyone is a target, especially in times when the police resources are wasted on enforcing “hate speech” laws and ordering people to think and speak in a prescribed way [source]. And now they have the power to do so (via the “The Investigatory Powers Act” [source 1, source 2]). All you have to do is to say something that is deemed politically incorrect and you will find police knocking on your door and recording “hate incident” on your file – if you are lucky [source 1, source 2].
However, snooping on you and selling your information is not the worst part. The worst part is how those tech giants and governments are using their power to shape public opinion by depriving people their basic rights and silencing voices they do not like. For more information, see our article on Big Tech Censorship.
The solution is simple – do not use Big Tech products, so they cannot give your data to the governments and advertisers – or deny you their services if you say or do something they do not like. Take care of your privacy and freedom by using solutions focusing on protecting it. If you will not fight for your own rights, no-one else will. Please see our article on deleting the Big Tech from your life for simple instructions how to do it.