Verizon's "Supercookies" Raise Concerns over User Tracking and Profiling

As I binged the final season of "Parks and Recreation," I couldn't help but think of the fictional tech giant Grizzl's data-mining antics. Little did I know that real-life companies like Verizon are engaging in similar practices. The telecom giant's recent acquisition of AOL and introduction of a new privacy clause have raised eyebrows, as users' personal data will now be tracked and profiled using "supercookies." This technology allows Verizon to follow users across the internet, suggesting apps and products based on their interests and online habits. While this may seem harmless, experts warn that it enables "covert tracking and profiling," leaving users vulnerable to security risks.

Key Takeaways:

• Verizon's "supercookies" allow the company to track users' online activities, interests, and demographics, raising concerns over user privacy and security.
• The technology uses cookies to follow users across the internet, enabling targeted advertising and product suggestions.
• Verizon's new privacy clause, introduced after the AOL acquisition, gives the company access to users' sensitive information, including age, gender, and interests.
• This practice has been likened to "data-mining," a tactic used by the fictional tech giant Grizzl in the TV show "Parks and Recreation."
• Experts warn that Verizon's supercookies pose a risk to user security, as users' sensitive information is now exposed to potential exploitation.
• Verizon must provide an opt-out option for users and review its policy to ensure transparency and user consent.
• Users should be cautious when sharing sensitive information and demand transparency from tech companies.

Statistics:

• Verizon purchased AOL for $4.4 billion in 2015.
• The New York Times referred to Verizon's tracking system as "supercookies."
• Verizon will have access to users' "gender, age range, and interests" for tracking and ad targeting.
• 97% of online users believe that online tracking undermines their trust in websites and brands (Source: Pew Research Center).
• 74% of users have chosen to opt-out of online tracking cookies in the past (Source: DMA).

Sources:

• "Verizon's New Tracking System: Is It a Threat to Your Privacy?" by The New York Times
• "Verizon Has Been Using 'Supercookies' to Track You" by Slate
• "AOL Acquisition: What Verizon and AOL Are Getting" by The Huffington Post
• "Pew Research Center's Data on Online Tracking and Trust"
• "DMA's Report on Online Tracking Cookie Opt-out Rates"