Tech Companies Are Not Keeping Your Data Safe. CircleIt Is Here To Change That
Meta and other tech giants are making privacy a focal point of recent ad campaigns, but are they really respecting your privacy? Or are they simply paying lip service to the growing demands for a privacy revolution? Recent updates suggest that even the strongest advocates for privacy are using your information in ways you may not appreciate.
DuckDuckGo & Microsoft Have a Data Sharing Relationship
One of the major advocates for data privacy in technology has been DuckDuckGo, the “private” search engine. Marketed as an alternative to Google and their massive data warehousing operations, DuckDuckGo has been funded to the tune of $172 million in the past few years, with many investors sold on the concept of a search engine that disables advertising trackers, or third party cookies.
Recently, Wired broke the news that DuckDuckGo has made some exceptions to its strong stand on privacy, specifically for their partner, Microsoft. By examining the browser's data flows on Facebook-owned website Workplace.com, it was discovered that the site's Microsoft-placed tracking scripts continued to communicate back to Microsoft-owned domains like Bing and LinkedIn. DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg responded on Twitter, admitting that "our search syndication agreement prevents us from stopping Microsoft-owned scripts from loading"—essentially admitting that a partnership deal DuckDuckGo struck with Microsoft includes creating a carveout that lets Microsoft track users of its browsers. So DuckDuckGo sells data to Microsoft, which means that even the biggest stalwarts for data privacy are not immune to the lure of money for data.
When it comes to 100% data privacy DuckDuckGo has become DuckDuckNo.
Twitter Sees Even More Bad News Concerning User Privacy
Tech giant Twitter has been in the news a lot lately, specifically with the drama surrounding the potential buyout by Elon Musk. The news has been seen by many as a smokescreen to cover some accusations against Musk, but it may also have buried the news about a recent fine incurred by Twitter for selling personal information of its users.
Twitter recently agreed to pay a $150 million fine after the Federal Trade Commission and the US Department of Justice accused it of selling user data that it had collected under the guise of security. Twitter had asked users to share the emails and phone numbers for security purposes, such as two-factor authentication and account recovery, but had ultimately sold the data to advertisers seeking to target ads to its users. That bait-and-switch violated an agreement Twitter made with the FTC in 2011 after earlier privacy misbehavior.
When it comes to violating privacy, it seems Meta and Google are not the only tech giants willing to sell you out for using their “free” platforms.
Lawsuits Allege Meta Exploits Young Users For Profit
As we have discussed before, the young users of Facebook and Instagram have been especially vulnerable victims of Meta’s appetite for profits. CircleIt was among the first to discuss the connection between the news of Meta burying studies that prove their complicity in a rise in depression, anxiety and suicide among teens and their use of private data to sell more advertising.
Now, 8 lawsuits have been filed against the social media giant. The lawsuits filed in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas claim that users’ prolonged exposure to Meta and its platforms has led to actual or attempted suicides, self-harm, eating disorders, anxiety, depression and reduced ability to sleep, among other mental health conditions.
This comes on the heels of other lawsuits filed previously in Illinois and Texas for Meta violating biometric data collection laws. When the option to keep your family healthy and safe is set against the option to make billions of dollars, Meta has continuously chosen money over security and safety.
How CircleIt Protects Your Data Privacy
Meta’s other major platform, Whatsapp, recently began touting their end-to-end encryption for communications. They must have been listening to CircleIt, as we have utilized end-to-end encryption from the beginning. While most technology companies are dependent upon making money by selling your data, CircleIt is 100% ad-free, keeping your private information secure and safe, the way it always should be.
Our one-of-a-kind generational platform was built with a family-first mindset. We wanted a technology that would be safe for families to share their memories, communicate privately, and send special digital greeting cards and physical gifts to one another. With that in mind, we wanted this to be the digital equivalent of sitting around your living room. Family matters should always stay with the family, whether it is the family you were born into, or the one you have chosen.
