Introduction
Privacy policies are often designed to be difficult to read. Companies know that most users will simply click "I agree" without ever reading the terms. This article breaks down the common tactics used by companies to obscure important information about your data and shows you what to look for in these documents.
Most privacy policies use complex legal language, lengthy documents, and vague terms to make it hard for the average person to understand exactly what data is being collected and how it's being used. By understanding these tactics, you can better protect your personal information online.
Understanding Privacy Policies
Privacy policies are legal documents that disclose how a company collects, uses, shares, and protects user data. They're required by law in many jurisdictions, but the way they're written often serves the company more than the user.
A typical privacy policy includes information about:
- What personal information is collected
- How the information is used
- Who the information is shared with
- How the information is secured
- User rights regarding their data
However, these policies are often written in a way that gives companies the broadest possible permissions while providing users with minimal understanding and control.
Common Obfuscation Tactics
Companies use several tactics to make their privacy policies difficult to comprehend:
Length and Complexity
The average privacy policy is over 4,000 words and would take about 20 minutes to read carefully. By making policies extremely long, companies know that most users won't bother reading them.
Legal Jargon
Technical terms and legal language make policies inaccessible to the average user. Words like "affiliates," "third parties," and "business partners" are deliberately vague.
Broad Definitions
Companies often use broad definitions of "personal information" or "necessary processing" to give themselves maximum flexibility with your data.
Buried Important Information
Critical details about data sharing or selling are often buried deep in the document where they're least likely to be noticed.
What to Look For
When reviewing a privacy policy, pay special attention to these sections:
Data Collection
Look for what specific data is being collected. Be wary of vague terms like "information about you" or "data we collect."
Data Sharing
Check if your data is being shared with third parties, and if so, for what purpose. Look for terms like "partners," "affiliates," or "service providers."
Opt-Out Rights
Determine if and how you can opt out of certain data collection or sharing practices. Some policies make this intentionally difficult.
Data Retention
Look for how long your data is kept. Many companies retain data indefinitely unless required by law to delete it.
Tools That Can Help
Several tools can help you navigate complex privacy policies:
PolicyPulse
Our platform summarizes privacy policies in plain language, highlighting key concerns.
Privacy Badger
This browser extension blocks trackers and helps you understand which websites are tracking your behavior.
ToS;DR
"Terms of Service; Didn't Read" is a community project that rates and labels website terms & privacy policies.
Conclusion
Understanding privacy policies is essential in today's digital world. By knowing what to look for and using tools like PolicyPulse, you can make more informed decisions about which services to use and how to protect your personal information online.
The next time you encounter a privacy policy, remember that it's not just a formality—it's a contract that determines how your personal data will be used and shared. Taking the time to understand these documents is an important step in protecting your digital privacy.
