Internet Privacy - Essay Example

As Cronin points out there are billions of customer data existing on computers across the world today, including bank accounts, credit card accounts, mortgage information, retirement fund details, medical claims, and much more, and 'the web seamlessly links it all together' (Cronin, 1). Search Engines are a great mine of information. Privacy concerns range from popular search engines like Google and Yahoo which track IP addresses, time of the search, and search details. When search history, registration details, and email details are taken together, you can have a comprehensive personal profile of any user.

Cronin in her essay contends that many users 'are not aware that their online behavior is so readily recorded and analyzed' (Cronin, 2). Legal bodies in many countries have addressed privacy issues, though this has not translated to new legislation. For example, a body in Norway has stated that Google's retaining of information for 18-24 months is too long a duration. Cronin argues that 'unless there is some external pressure to place limits on how much information is collected, or how it is being used, it seems that data mining practice will be fine-tuned and expanded' (Cronin, 3).

E-commerce sites command personal information including credit card information and purchase history. As users are wary of how this is used, this is an impediment to increased usage. 'Good privacy practice should be more closely linked with trust, as an essential trust-building block for closer relationships with customers and a sustainable source of e-business advantage' (Cronin, 5). The Internet affords most users an illusion of private space, a personal space without the interference of any third party.

The concept of personal space includes the privacy of personal behavior, personal communication, and personal data (Clarke). Cronin writes, 'often our interactions with the Net do have a private feel to them' (Cronin, 3). On one hand, users have an appalling lack of awareness about what information is tracked and stored, and on the other hand, complete monitoring tools exist on many Websites. Cronin points out that if customers did know about the long-term storage of the information they gave, 'they would think carefully about balancing the value of resources they receive' against the value of the information they disclose (Cronin, 4).