Traditionally, European and American attitudes about privacy were as different as kale chips and buttercream icing. But things may be changing as more stateside citizens start to question the country’s laissez-faire approach to digital surveillance. Will an ideological shift demolish the U.S. tech economy? Let’s dissect.
Origins of Online Privacy in Europe
World War II shaped Europe’s relationship with privacy — as decades of dealing with record-obsessed authoritarian regimes will do. After the ordeal, Europeans clung to their privacy — and their reverence for personal data security is reflected in the EU’s current and comprehensive online privacy laws.
And the disparity is codified legally. In May 2018, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation went into effect. A comprehensive digital privacy law, the GDPR gives users near-complete control of their online data. They can even request its deletion.
But in March 2018, U.S. legislators passed the CLOUD Act, which essentially overrides the European law. It allows “federal law enforcement to compel U.S.-based technology companies via warrant or subpoena to provide requested data stored on servers regardless of whether the data are stored in the U.S. or on foreign soil.” Now, that doesn’t mean all stateside websites and apps don’t need to worry about the GDPR. However, it does mean that the U.S. federal government can still collect user data with a warrant whenever it wants.
The Current State of Digital Privacy in the U.S.: Virtually Non-Existent
Study after study reveals that the overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens don’t worry about online privacy warnings. We may give it a passing thought if a particularly gruesome story hits the headlines, but that’s about it. Few folks are pushing for a federal online privacy law, and hardly anyone reads website and app privacy policies.
So what’s behind our collective shrug when it comes to protecting personal information? Look no further than our love of stuff and getting deals on stuff! While Europeans associate privacy intrusion with government overreach, we Americans see it as the fast track to killer coupons.
American’s indifference to online privacy is also laid bare by the majority’s opinion on Edward Snowden. In 2013, the now-exiled computer specialist revealed how federal officials leveraged the Patriot Act to spy on ordinary Americans. You’d assume a country founded on freedom would have welcomed the whistleblowing, yet most people believe his actions were unforgivably wrong.
Are Tech Companies Lobbying Against Online Privacy?
Where do the big tech companies stand on digital privacy? Though the Internet Association — which counts Amazon, Uber, Facebook, and Google as members — heavily lobbies politicians for a federal “privacy law,” it’s one that would strip users’ rights, not enhance them.
Why?
Because tech companies profit by monetizing data. If more states enact laws like Europe’s GPPR, as California already has, their bottom lines could shrink.
Can Increasing Online Privacy Kill the U.S. Economy?
The issue of online privacy legislation reaches beyond the personal and into the political. Namely, our economy and standing in the global-tech cold war is dependent on the free-flow of data. Innovation requires capital, and tech companies raise said capital by selling and sharing data.
So with the good comes the bad. If we, the United States, want to compete in the world of AI and bio-tech — if we want to remain at the vanguard of innovation — then we need to fuel the marketing monster.
And deeper economic implications must be considered.
Bluntly speaking, we no longer make a lot of “things” in the United States. Factories have been flying offshore for decades while software and social media companies have moved in. Manufacturing is no longer the country’s financial backbone, tech and marketing are. Breaking either industry could, theoretically, trigger a decades-long depression.
What do you think? Have we made our free-to-access digital bed and now must lie in it? Or is it time to take a long, hard look at the country’s digital privacy laws and have a robust public debate about where we want to head?
Should You Be Concerned About the United States’ Lack of Privacy Laws?
Since the pandemic rolled into Earth — dragging contact-tracing along with it — we’re living our lives almost exclusively online. The situation has prompted more people to begin questioning the state of their digital privacy.
Everyone is faced with a question: do you want companies and governments tracking your digital footprint? Do you want them to know everything you Google and read? Every click?
It’s a personal choice, but if you care, you’ll need to take protective precautions, like using a VPN and staying away from social media. Also understand that removing yourself from the world of “cookies” will make “logging in” a manual process…every time. Plus, you won’t see ads and receive deals based on your interests and needs. But if you can live with those minor inconveniences, being an online ghost could enhance your privacy and add peace of mind to your life.
