Originally Appeared: The New York Times on February 14, 2019
To the Editor:
Re “How Silicon Valley Puts the ‘Con’ in Consent” (editorial, Feb. 3):
Fewer than five clicks. That’s all it takes to change privacy settings on your favorite social media or streaming service. You’d be hard pressed to find a brick-and-mortar service that gives its customers the same granular control over their information as internet companies offer.
There’s no denying that terms and conditions are long and complex; no one wants to read through 30 pages of fine print. But the internet didn’t invent lengthy contracts. We encounter and agree to them all the time, including when we purchase airline tickets or car insurance, join a supermarket loyalty program or sign up for a gym membership.
