Siskinds technology, privacy and cybersecurity lawyer Peter Dillon, was recently interviewed by AdvocateDaily.com regarding the recent scandal that erupted after Facebook data was harvested and used by a political consulting firm.
Read the full article below.
Protecting one’s information on social media
By Mia Clarke, Associate Editor
The recent scandal that erupted after Facebook data was harvested and used by a political consulting firm should serve as a reminder to social media users to read the fine print, London, Ont. privacy lawyer Peter Dillon tells 106.9 The X radio station.
“I think many issues with online privacy can arise when an individual doesn’t read into the terms and agreement,” says Dillon, a partner with Siskinds LLP.
“And when you consider that there wasn’t a breach of information, meaning information that was hacked, reading the fine print, so to speak, is extremely important,” says Dillon, who head’s the firm’s technology, franchise and privacy law groups.
“Nobody hacked our systems. Nobody stole passwords. This information was garnered from people with their knowledge and consent,” he says.
The X cites a study that reveals only one person per 1,000 actually reads the terms and agreements of their social media accounts.
“But I don’t really blame them for not reading,” Dillon tells the London, Ont.-based radio station.
“The reality is that in most instances, most of the information that advertising companies get from users is used for a bonafide reason.”
If, for example, someone had recently been shopping for a backpack, says Dillon, “You would then see advertisements for backpacks on various social media platforms because they know that you are in the market for one.”
Some jurisdictions, like the European Union, are now cracking down on social media networks through tougher consumer laws, says Dillon.
“There are still many phishing scams and hackers out there who are using the internet for their own gain,” he says.
“Ultimately, if you’re not worried about your information, you should be,” says Dillon.
“As consumers, my advice to you is to make sure you read into what you’re consenting to. If having your information out there is something you don’t want, it’s certainly possible, so long as you take the necessary steps.”