#termsofservices

During my second semester in the Interactive Digital Media program, I have been exposed to some interesting topics of legal policies and I have become more aware of how websites on the Internet collect and use our personal information. Nowadays, websites ranging from large companies (such Google, Facebook and Amazon) to small businesses and websites collect and use our personal details and can track all the online data and browsing history. It’s hard to know what they actually do with this information and if they stored it, share it or sell it.

  The Terms of Services, Privacy Policy and Community Guidelines are important things that we as users need to consider to protect our information when we sign up on a website or service. When we create an account we need to be aware about our personal details and third party services as well as information related to our web browser, current location, cookies and web tags. There is particular information that will be shared with the public through the website and third party services. For that reason is important to read this terms before sign up in a website or service to keep our personal information secure online.

  Recently most of the important websites, like Google, Microsoft, Tumblr and so on have changed their privacy policies and terms of service. Usually we say that we have read, understand, and agree to those terms without take the time to actually read it (well, probably you will say that nobody got time for that) but what is behind all this? The true is that most of the websites are using and collecting our data to improve their products, provide anonymous statistics, or make enhanced features that may (or may not) provide a better and greater experience for us.

  On the other hand, as a business owner on a website or app, when we required collect personal information from our user (including result of searches, signing up to an email newsletter, or online ordering and payment processing) is really important to review the privacy laws and best practices to make sure that we comply with the privacy requirements within the service that we provide in our website or app. This way we protect our backs if we are committing an infringement without really knowing. It’s important to follow the laws that operate under our jurisdiction, province or country when it comes to personal information protection.