Tell the FTC: Stop tech companies from selling kids’ data
Global Privacy Control tools make it easier for consumers to opt-out of data collection. Here’s a guide to install the data privacy plug-in on your browser.
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Don't Sell My Data Campaign, Associate, U.S. PIRG Education Fund
Director, Don't Sell My Data Campaign, U.S. PIRG Education Fund
Whenever you’re browsing the internet, it’s almost certain that some company behind your screen is collecting your data – including what you’ve searched for and every website you’ve ever visited. And they may be reselling it to hundreds of other companies you’ve never heard of.
This is a problem. The more data that companies collect, and the more companies hold that data, the more likely it is that consumers’ information will get exposed in a breach or a hack. Consumers are more likely to become the victim of identity theft or hyper-targeted scams if a con artist already knows certain facts about a person.
One way to protect your privacy online is to download a universal opt-out mechanism, such as the Global Privacy Control. Universal opt-out mechanisms make it easier to opt-out of data collection and sales because they automatically tell websites not to collect your data. Some states with data privacy laws, like Montana, now require that websites listen to opt-out signals from universal opt-out mechanisms.
A universal opt-out mechanism is a piece of technology that helps you automatically opt-out of data collection online. Once you’ve downloaded the tool, the mechanism will broadcast to every site you visit that you don’t want your data collected or sold. That way you don’t have to individually contact every website you visit to opt out.
You will, however, need to do a bit of work to get the tool working.
The Global Privacy Control is currently the most widely recognized version of universal opt-out mechanism. There are a number of tools available that incorporate the Global Privacy Control (GPC).
Find your web browser below for our recommendations of tools that include GPC signals.
To automatically opt-out of data collection on websites while using your Chrome browser, you need to download a special browser extension. You have a couple of options.
To automatically opt-out of data collection on websites in Safari, you need to download a special browser extension. Apple currently doesn’t allow our favorite tool – Privacy Badger – in Safari, but there is another option you can use.
To automatically opt-out of data collection on websites in Edge you’ll need to download a special browser extension. You have a couple of options:
Firefox is the only major browser that has a GPC signal built into it automatically, so you don’t have to download any special tools. But you do have to go turn it on.
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Ellen works on data privacy issues for PIRG's Don't Sell My Data campaign. Ellen lives in Chicago, where she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts and spending time with friends.
R.J. focuses on data privacy issues and the commercialization of personal data in the digital age. Her work ranges from consumer harms like scams and data breaches, to manipulative targeted advertising, to keeping kids safe online. In her work at Frontier Group, she has authored research reports on government transparency, predatory auto lending and consumer debt. Her work has appeared in WIRED magazine, CBS Mornings and USA Today, among other outlets. When she’s not protecting the public interest, she is an avid reader, fiction writer and birder.