Data Privacy – In Defense of the Voiceless

Data privacy has always been an important aspect of everyone’s lives, which is why people put locks on cabinets and codes on lockers. But as more of our data becomes digitized, and we share more information online, data privacy is taking on greater importance. Data privacy identifies with how a piece of information should be handled based on its relative importance.

Information about children has been collected from their parents by online retailers of Baby Care Products, who could be in trouble, considering India’s proposed data protection law.

The draft proposes strict restrictions on guardian data fiduciaries, companies that operate commercial websites or online services directed at children or process large volumes of personal data related to children. Amazon and digital parenting networks First-Cry and Parentlane as well as Johnson & Johnson’s BabyCenter are among companies that offer services that require personal information about children.

 

  1. AMAZON: Amazon Family offers their subscribers exclusive offers, content that is age specific, recommendations and discount coupons if they are ready to give out certain details about their child, including the name, gender and, date of birth of the child.

 

  1. FIRSTCRY: FirstCry, one of India’s largest ecommerce platforms for baby products, is involved in a similar act of collecting data through its parenting discussion forum. They state that their service is only for parents, so they do not target children.

 

  1. JHONSON & JHONSON: J&J’s BabyCenter and baby care app – Parentlane ask for personal information like their birth weight and photographs in order to provide parents with personalized products. They had a similar explanation as that of FirstCry, about having Parents as their Target Customers and not the children.

 

 Privacy experts feel that though data is being shared by parents, the fear is that companies could potentially use this information for commercial gains in the future. “The question to be asked is whether these companies are sharing this data with third parties, and if children can request deletion of this data once they turn adults,” said Gupta of Internet Freedom Foundation. 

 Bitly: https://bit.ly/2Y82bE3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *