Too much information

Streetbees Team
March 02, 2020

It’s not just consumer-centric messaging that companies are adopting - its consumer-centric data practices. We all know that Streetbees puts the user at the heart of everything - allowing them to have complete control over what they share. Are others starting to see things our way - or will trust remain an unaddressed issue by big Tech?

Graphic showing insight on consumers' attitudes to data privacy

Pay attention to where your data goes. According to the Technology Policy Institute (TPI) in the US, consumers are willing to give their data to Facebook for a small financial incentive. Globally, users would part with their financial data - bank balance, for example - for a monthly reward of $8.44 and $7.56 for biometric information - fingerprints. On top of this, Facebook is also paying users $5 for five sets of voice recordings - to help improve their voice recognition technology. Could this hint at mort smart-gadgets as it aims to become the ultimate communication hub for users?

Fit for purpose? Earlier this month, concerns were raised over what Google’s acquisition of Fitbit means for people’s health data - The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has ordered a full investigation with the UK’s data watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and the US Department of Justice also looking into potential privacy issues. The call for the break-up of big tech has gone somewhat quiet over the past few months, will this reignite the movement? Could the results of the investigation have implications far beyond just Google and Fitbit?

Are EU serious? Due to cybersecurity concerns, the staff at the EU’s European Commission have been told not to use instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Apple messaging. An internal memo was issued recommending open source app Signal to employees - due to the increase in hacking attempts on high-profile individuals. Will this lead to other apps actually banned among organizations and Governing bodies - or will they respond by increasing their security measures to avoid user decline?

How not to go viral. The Chinese Government has been accused of using Twitter and WeChat to uncover the individuals spreading ‘negative information’ about the Coronavirus crisis. There are even claims that the Government has instructed health workers not to mention the coronavirus in group chats. Online protests erupted after whistleblower Li Wenliang died of the disease - with roughly 2m posts using the hashtag “I want freedom of speech” being taken down after a day. Despite this, 77% of our bees in China believe the Chinese Government is doing enough to contain the virus.