Shortcut to reading annoying privacy policies

Tech privacy policies are confusing on purpose. I know, big shocker! But I’m always surprised by just how difficult these things are to comb through and what they hide.

Today, I’m calling out the biggest offenders — and sharing one of my favorite, easy-to-use privacy tools.

The worst of the worst

I read these privacy policies so you don’t have to. Some of these companies are collecting far more than you might realize.

  • Disney shares your data with third parties. After that, they have no control over how it’s used.
  • Instagram tracks your exact location and may share it for targeted advertising.
  • Zoom records and shares your meeting data (including video, audio, and chat logs!) with third parties.
  • Wikipedia automatically logs and stores your IP address.
  • UPS transfers your personal data to other countries, where data protection laws might not be as strict.
  • Uber Eats keeps your info indefinitely — even after you deactivate your account.
  • Netflix shares your viewing habits and personal information with TV networks, ISPs and other partners.
  • Spotify collects and stores voice data, including conversations, through its voice assistant.
  • Microsoft collects massive amounts of data, including what you type, your app usage and what’s on your clipboard.
  • Yahoo reserves the right to update its privacy policy at any time, without notifying you.

Feeling a little creeped out? Me, too.

Cut to the chase

It’d be nice if we could wave a magic wand to see all the hidden privacy gotchas. The next best thing? These easy tips:

⌛ Time-saving tip: When you’re reviewing a company’s privacy policy on your computer, use Ctrl + F on Windows or Cmd + F on a Mac to quickly search for buzzwords like “sell,” “partners” and “affiliates.” Words like “geolocation” and “geotargeting” indicate your location information will be collected. Def search for those.

💬 Know the terms: Sections with names like “How we collect your personal data” show what a company gathers from you and how they do it. “How we use your personal information” is their take on why they need your data in the first place. “Business purposes” usually means they share it with third parties.

🎮 Protect the kids: Look for references to “COPPA” or the “Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act” to see how a company protects your kid’s data.

Phew, that’s a lot. I’m always on the hunt to shortcut some of the hard work of securing your privacy. That’s where Incogni comes in.

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List: The very worst gifts you can give if you care about privacy

Anytime you go online or use a connected device, your privacy is at risk. This isn’t to say you should throw away all your tech and live in a cave, but there are ways to minimize exposure.

Let’s start with your choice of browser. This has a significant impact on your online experience. Many browsers share popular features like dark mode, but when it comes to privacy, you’ll find a greater distinction. Tap or click here for the best privacy-focused browsers, ranked.

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How to read a privacy policy (fast)

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Reading the top 96 websites’ privacy policies would eat up 47 hours of your life. Let’s get you those hours back with some speedy deciphering tips.

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Read privacy policies quickly with these tips

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When was the last time you actually read a “Terms of Service” popup? Let me tell you why you should, in just 60 seconds.