Introduction
There are many online websites that ask for an individual’s personal information, before they allow people to join these websites. This necessity of sharing an email address brings with it online websites leads to several problems for email sharing individuals. Websites end up collecting personal information of a large number of people and they treat is as their asset and find ways to make of them (FTC, 2012). These online websites use personal information of individuals and share it without even asking for consent of individuals. It is essential that online websites protect the personal information of individuals who share their details as they believe their information is secure (IHS, 2016). Regulations are needed to ensure that online websites are restricted from sharing personal information and they are not allowed to profit from it. Regulations would ensure that individuals are spared from the spammers, hackers and target advertising that are the some of the biggest concerns of sharing personal information with online websites.
Need for Regulation
Spammers
Spamming has become part and parcel of online websites making money. These websites prefer to flood the mailbox of their customers for brand developing their brand and making sure customers remember them (Papworth, 2010). The problem with such a situation is that the mailbox of individuals gets filled with spam mails from several online websites. This situation is disadvantageous to both individuals as they end up facing hundreds of spam mails daily and online websites as their mails are left unread or deleted by their potential customers. This way, spamming ends up becoming a waste of time, money and energy for individuals and online websites. It would be suitable for both parties, if a regulation is passed to ensure online websites are not allowed to spam their customers and the number of mails send daily are restricted (Nightingale, 2015).
Online websites not only send their customer spam messages, but they also sell their personal information to other online websites and database buyers (Nightingale, 2015). This scenario creates a situation where customers get mails from sources that they have never heard from before and they feel they have been used. There has to be a way that individuals can be protected from such spamming activities from websites that they have not provided their information. The only solution is probably regulation that ensures that websites are not allowed to share or sell customer information to other websites as it breaches the trust of customers and makes a mockery of the relationship between the customer and online websites. Regulation would provide customers with an environment where their personal is protected and they do not have to receive mailers from unknown sources (Nightingale, 2015).
Hackers and Scammers
Personal information of individuals collected by online websites is highly sensitive in nature that can be easily used by accessed by hackers by accessing or purchasing database of online websites (Levin, 2015). Personal information such as name, date of birth, address, school, college, anniversary, spouse name, etc. can be used by hackers to analyse the password of individuals and hack their personal account. It is important to understand that such critical information in the hands of hackers can lead to criminal activities such as stealing money from bank accounts or increased credit fraud. These situations can be avoided simply by ensuring that regulations are passed that ensures hackers cannot buy personal information of customers from online websites. Regulations would create an environment where individuals can feel safe about sharing their information with online websites (Levin, 2015).
There are several ways scammers can use personal information of individuals and confirm that they are legitimate individuals. Scammers have the knowledge and the know-how to extract passwords from emails. Scammers can become a major problem for individuals as they do not expect to face major troubles only by sharing their personal information with online websites. They can also use usernames as a means to gain access to personal information. They can use different individual’s personal information and perform identity fraud. There is no way to stop such scams unless accessing personal information is made impossible. Passing regulations would save individuals from fraudsters and ensure their personal information is protected. Regulation is a means for individuals to ensure that sharing customer information is controlled and customers are saved from the evil intentions of scammers (Levin, 2015).
Target Advertising
Online websites ask customers for emails and they use their emails to target them through ads. Once websites learn preferences of customers and the products they would like to purchase, websites use targeting software to show customers with advertisements of similar products (O’Neill, 2014). Target advertising is a major concern for customers of online shopping websites as they are targeted with ads from one or more websites. Every webpage customers open, they end up watching advertisements of one or another product from a website. Online websites also use target advertising as a means to generate revenue and keep their clients interested. They choose online advertising as it is a sure shot way to remain in their customer’s memory. Online websites use target advertising as they know that their competition are doing the same (O’Neill, 2014).
With no way to control such aggressive form of advertising, customers are left in limbo as they have no other option, but to see these ads continuously. It is important people are protected from target advertising as online websites cover every webpage they can find and place their advertisements. This scenario makes it impossible for customers to escape online ads and creates a negative image of online websites in their mind. Therefore, regulation needs to be passed to control the target advertising, especially when the customer notifies that they do not want to see any ads. There has to be a level of privacy and protection for customers and it can only be assured when regulation is passed. Without regulation for controlling ads, the trend would continue and people will be targeted by online websites who are aiming to sell products and are willing to try anything they can to achieve their goal (O’Neill, 2014).
Conclusion
Online websites ask for personal information from their customers when they sign up on their website. While this action is seen as necessary as online websites want to ensure the person is real, but such activity also brings dangers to the customer. Some of the biggest concerns faced by people who register on online websites are spamming, hacking & scamming, and target advertising. Spamming fills the mailbox of customers as online websites are competing with each other to gain customer’s attention. Hacking & scamming become easier as access to personal information makes it very easy to access someone’s password to perform crimes and steal their money. Finally, target advertising is used as tool by online websites to ensure that they can keep track of their customer by showing their ads on every webpage the visit. These issues need to be regulated as customer privacy needs to be a priority and the only way they can handle the situation is by passing a regulation and controlling the sharing of personal information of customers.
References
FTC. (July 2012). How to Keep Your Personal Information Secure. Retrieved 15 June 2016 from, https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0272-how-keep-your-personal-information-secure
IHS. Website Personal Information Privacy Policy. Retrieved 15 June 2016 from, https://www.ihs.com/Legal/privacy-pi.html
Levin., A. (2015, 31 May). 5 Reasons You Shouldn't Give Your Email Out Like Candy. Retrieved 15 June 2016 from, http://abcnews.go.com/Business/reasons-give-email-candy/story?id=31373966
Nightingale., R. (2015, 8 July). Still Getting Spam? 4 Email Mistakes to Avoid Today. Retrieved 15 June 2016 from, http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/still-getting-spam-4-email-mistakes-avoid-today/
O’Neill., M. (2014, 18 July). Just How Dangerous Is It To Share Your Information On Facebook?. Retrieved 15 June 2016 from, http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/just-dangerous-share-information-facebook-2/
Papworth., J. (2010). Online shopping spam 'plagues' consumers. Retrieved 15 June 2016 from, https://www.theguardian.com/money/2010/oct/02/online-shopping-spam
