Facebook, Google Know Too Much About Us, Most Americans Say: POLL

Do Facebook and Google know too much about us? According to a new survey conducted by Harris Interactive, a majority of Americans are concerned about how much personal data is accessible to large Internet companies like Facebook and Google.

Harris asked 2,124 U.S. adults if they agreed or disagreed that Google, Facebook and others "control too much of our personal information and know too much about our browsing habits." A clear majority, 76 percent, agreed with the statement, and 36 percent of those "strongly" agreed.

Sixteen percent did not think large Internet companies know and control too much data, while the remaining 8 percent said they weren't sure.

Further analysis showed that slightly more women than men agreed with the statement, and that more adults with higher incomes agree than those with lower incomes.

Nevertheless, a larger percentage of the adults polled felt that government should not intervene in the practices of large Internet companies. Only 36 percent supported government intervention, while 46 percent were against it. Eighteen percent were unsure.

"[I]t seems that control of so much information by these online companies makes Americans uncomfortable. Yet, there is no consensus that government intervention is the answer," Harris concludes. "Rather, it seems, Americans are torn, possibly between ideals of free enterprise, the products and services that they use and enjoy which these large businesses provide, and their trepidations about companies yielding so much information and power."

Tell us how you would have answered via our Quick Poll. Then, view more data from the Harris poll (below).

Quick Poll

Do you agree that large Internet companies like Facebook and Google control too much of users' personal data?

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Not sure

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

LOOK: Do online companies control too much?

LOOK: Should the government intervene?

[via TechCrunch]

Comments

[Deona Renna Hooper]

06:18 PM on 05/23/2011

I understand that some feel the masses put themselves at risk for the disclosure of their personal information to companies like Google and Facebook. This is true to a degree. With Facebook creating the geotagging, gps features, and other applications, it must be recognized that the user has the option to authorize, change, or disable functions within Facebook. However with Google, purchasing an Android phone is giving consent to have your gps location logged for seven years by Verizon. User lack the authority to change access permissions by application, and delete preloaded application. Some applications have the ability to read and send emails and text, make phone calls, turn on video, audio etc....without your permission. The user must trust the company on the basis that because they can do these things that they won't. This is a phone....that's way too much access. As long as Android takes that stance, I will not own one.

[Bruce Pere]

03:02 AM on 05/19/2011

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[Danek Greori]

01:30 AM on 05/19/2011

These companies that the majority are apparently so concerned about only have as much information about you as you are willing to give or share with them (excluding data that is publicly available as a matter of law). It defies logic how so many people can claim to be so concerned with the amount of data that is kept about them, and the security of that data, but then contradictorily go on to continue to use these services and websites and voluntarily supply even more of their private and personal information for corporate consumption.

No one forces you to create a FaceBook profile. No one forces you to fill your online profiles with truthful or accurate information about yourself. No one forces you to share your every waking thought with any virtual passerby on the Internet.

People should be less concerned with the amount of data that Internet-based corporations have about them, and more concerned about the limitless vanity they have for themselves.

[seburton72]

09:38 PM on 05/18/2011

Easy: just make sure you're such an annoying Facebook user that everyone blocks you!

http://irreverentguidetolife.com/2011/05/18/how-to-use-facebook/

[JackHoffman]

05:01 PM on 05/18/2011

So don't go on facebook and use bing.

[carolo]

11:01 AM on 05/18/2011

Freedom of Speech is far different than being able to commit slander (Deframation of Caracter) and violating a persons privacy. In order to allow the freedom of speech, they also allow the taking away for the other Rights we have as citizens. Freedom of Speech has gone too far.

[Bob Gladue]

02:00 PM on 05/18/2011

never have to much freedom of speech ... you have the freedom to not read / listen

[frank day]

09:05 AM on 05/18/2011

I don't think its fair to lump Google into the same category as FaceBook.

FaceBook is Evil.

[carolo]

11:02 AM on 05/18/2011

I agree! Google doesn't send me emails of perverts trying to date me! I hate Facebook.

[jsarets]

04:07 AM on 05/18/2011

There's an important distinction between what Internet services know and what they control.

Services should not be permitted to control any of the user-generated data they've been licensed, because the copyright ownership clearly belongs to the user. They should not be permitted to dictate the terms of the copyright license rendered from the user in a "take it or leave it" fashion. 

Most importantly, services must allow the user to opt out of any transferable licensing terms if they do not want their data to be redistributed to unspecified third-parties.

Much has been made about allowing users to more precisely control which other users of the service can see which of their data, but it is probably even more important that users be able to restrict redistribution outside of the service, for example to marketing firms and whoever may want to purchase user-generated data.

Copyright law is premised on the notion that the creators are entitled to decide which of the available rights they wish to reserve. It was not anticipated that one day, a new class of digital recipients would dictate that creators transfer all of their rights in order to distribute their works. The law must be reformed to reassert the rights of creators to control the licensing terms of their work.

[Nick Lyons]

03:35 AM on 05/18/2011

It's not just Facebook and Google, it's any website you use online...The FBI has already proved all they have to do is flash their badge and they can retrieve IP addresses, and they are trying to make it even easier for them! In reality you can't do anything on the internet and be considered "safe"

[carolo]

11:04 AM on 05/18/2011

And speaking of.......Craigslist who has creeps roving the site all the time. What a lovely way to get someone to come into the privacy of your home by putting up some fake ad. Another person died due to Craigslist just today.

[Bob Gladue]

02:05 PM on 05/18/2011

any person with a will or want can get most peoples ip address ... its your job to check with your provider to see how request's for your name will be handled by law enforcement if you are worried about it

[Bogus Man]

02:28 AM on 05/18/2011

Privacy is an ideology not a business model!!!
Commercial companies try to convince us that we should give up our privacy, they do it because it’s their business model, not their ideology. Privacy experts claim that by 2020 there will be no more online privacy if we won’t change things. Check out this cool animation from a company that let you protect you online privacy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOCfvdr3jaY

[littleye]

01:57 AM on 05/18/2011

People, stop putting all your information online! Oh right, Google forces you to sign up for an account and so does Facebook. http://www.getlittleye.com

[lilylee86]

10:57 PM on 05/17/2011

That is really a problem we should consider..
joy fax

[OkayLady]

10:41 PM on 05/17/2011

I am reading the new book "the filter bubble" (the new TED talk but the author is a great preview) and ooooooh yeah, they have way way to much information. I'm a savvy user when it come to privacy settings, sharing info across platforms etc... I've even managed to keep alot of the trickier hidden trackers off my machines. NO matter what i do though, i know points of information about me are constantly being revealed to some system that will be harvested and analyzed eventually. To these big data companies we are just commodities and even "don't be evil" google has obviously put profit before civic responsibility.

We are desperately behind the curve in putting firm privacy protections in place. I shudder to think how profiled my two young nieces already are and they aren't even ready to leave highschool yet.

[Steve Ballmer]

09:31 PM on 05/17/2011

Microsoft loves you though!

http://fakesteveballmer.blogsot.com

[beachgirl61]

07:25 PM on 05/17/2011

If facebook and google know "too much" it's really our own fault! People put the information out there because they want all those stupid Farmville games, the "virtual gifts" and whatnot. Don't want the info out there, then either stay offline or be more selective as to what you put out there on your status updates. In other words, think before you post or click the "like" button or share a link.