AND THE

Universe

AS I SEE IT

tags:

The Privacy Paradox

The length and complexity of an entity's privacy policy is inversely proportional to the entity's respect of its user's privacy.

The privacy policy of this website is exactly 0 pages, 0 paragrpahs, 0 words, and 0 letters long. This website tracks nothing. This website does not use cookies, serve ads, use tracking pixels or to put it bluntly- this website doesn't give a crap about who you are.

 

Length of privacy policies:

SiteWord Count
linkedin.com6420
facebook.com4137
amazon.com3443
google.com5181
chase.com2239

These are rough estimates based on copy/pasting into Word. About 500 words fit on a page so Google's policy is about 10 pages long.

These numbers are just the start. Chase bank doesn't look too bad at only 2239 words. This is because Chase plays games. This is only their "online privacy policy", they have 9 total privacy policies. Within their online policy they state:

Chase may provide links to websites that are owned or operated by other companies ("third-party websites").  When you use a link online to visit a third-party website, you will be subject to that website’s privacy and security practices, which may differ from ours. You should familiarize yourself with the privacy policy, terms of use and security practices of the linked third-party website before providing any information on that website.

So who are these third parties? On their home page alone they installed scripts from: doubleclick.net (Google ad arm), facebook, linkedin (Microsoft subsidiary), twitter and others. You don't have to "use a link", having these scripts on their home page means these third-parties are tracking you thanks to Chase. 

 

The Cute Paradox

The cuter they try to make it, the uglier the policy.

Youtube video of their privacy policy

Google fills their privacy policy with videos of cute cartoons filled with puppies! Oh cute doggo, they must care about our privacy.

 

The Platitude Paradox

If a policy starts with some feel-good platitude, the rest won't feel good at all.

Bend over, and spread 'em, here is how Linkedin starts off:

Your Privacy Matters
LinkedIn’s mission is to connect the world’s professionals to allow them to be more productive and successful. Central to this mission is our commitment to be transparent about the data we collect about you, how it is used and with whom it is shared.

The other 6000 words of their policy are all the exceptions to privacy and transparency.

 

<TLDR>

0 words abour privacy means greater privacy than 6000 words about privacy.