Delusion of Privacy ?

Times of India ( 02 June ) carries following report :

86 % of citizens want law to protect private info : Survey

An NGO , Local Circles conducted a survey among 9653 citizens

Some 59 % of the respondents said that the following information of an individual should be covered under a new privacy law to be enacted :

·         Iris / Retina Scan / Finger Print Scan / DNA

·         Aadhar / PAN card / Passport / Voter ID / Date of Birth

·         Bank Ac / Debit – Credit Card / ITR / Medical Records

·         Credit Ratings / Salary Details / Performance at Work / Mobile Phone details / Residential Address / Family Details

Let no one have doubts that these 9653 respondents must have filled in hundreds of Application Forms , in their life time to avail of Passports / Ration Cards / Gas connections / Bank Accounts / Fixed Deposits / Share Certificates / Credit-Debit cards / Driving Licences / Mobile and landline phones / Club Memberships / Marriage Certificates / Purchase of property - car / Electricity Connection / Internet connections / Admission to hospitals / Aadhar Card / Voter Card / Train tickets / Admission to School – College / filing of tax returns etc………  

This list can run into dozens of instances !

And these citizens must have provided ALL of the above-mentioned information about themselves, to these agencies !

I suppose , their only concern could be :

“ These agencies must not share / exchange the data provided to build up a COMPREHENSIVE DATA-BASE , about me “

I request these citizens to read following extract ( Hindustan Times / 09 June / Keep a careful watch on your data trail ) :

·         

For instance, PhonePe, in its privacy policy , states :

“ We may automatically track certain information about you based upon your behaviour on our App.

We use this information to do internal research on our users’ demographics, interests, and behaviour to better understand, protect and serve our users “

·         The privacy policy of the Bharat Interface for Money ( BHIM ) says…. :

“ …… once you give us your personal information , you are not anonymous to us.

We may automatically track certain information about you based upon your behaviour on our app , to the extent we deem fit “

·         iMobile by ICICI Bank , for instance, in its privacy policy states :

“ ICICI Bank may use and share the information provided by the customers with its affiliates and third parties for providing services and any service-related activities such as collecting subscription fees for such services, and notifying or contacting the customers regarding any problem with,  or the expiration of, such services

In this regard, it may be necessary to disclose the customer information to one or more agents and contractors of ICICI Bank and their sub-contractors,  but such agents, contractors and sub-contractors will be required to agree to use the information obtained from ICICI Bank only for these purposes “

·         JioMoney Wallet , while disclosing upfront that the publishing company and its affiliates do not sell or rent personal information to any third party entities, also adds that the firm,

“ … engages a number of vendors , consultants, contractors and takes support of group companies

We may provide our partners access to or share your personal information to enable them to provide the services subscribed by you “

IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MOST OF THESE APPS ANNOUNCE UPFRONT THAT THE PRIVACY POLICY COULD CHANGE ANY TIME WITHOUT THE PRIOR INFORMATION OF THE USERS

Have these 9653 respondents any idea as to what personal information ( about them ) gets “ shared “ by Google / Amazon / Facebook / Apple , when they use any of their devices or apps or software ?

How long before these companies succeed in “ reading your innermost thoughts “ ?

{  MATRIX  3  ?  }

How long before they start “ manipulating your thoughts “ for OUTCOMES which they desire ?

{  MATRIX 4  ?  }

If you are using a smartphone / smart watch , this day is not too far !

If you start using VR / AR headsets , you will only hasten this day !

It is time to accept ( and without reservations ! ) what Sun Micro CEO , Scott McNally said :

“ Privacy is dead . Period . Get over it “

10  June  2017

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs