Data Brokers: The Silent Collectors of Your Digital Footprint
tl;dr: How do advertisements appear to understand precisely what you want? Data brokers gather massive volumes of personal information and hold the key to the solution. This article examines the reasons behind our anxiety regarding these firms' collection of personal data and how it affects our lives. What Are Data Brokers? Businesses that gather and market your data are known as data brokers. They obtain information from multiple sources, aggregate it into comprehensive profiles, and then sell it to companies. Well-known data brokers include Acxiom, Experian, and Oracle Data Cloud. They gather information about you, including your name, address, surfing history, shopping preferences, and even where you are. How Data Brokers Collect Data Data brokers use a variety of sources to get your information. They can track your online activity through cookies and web beacons that monitor your browsing behavior. Additionally, they collect information from mobile apps, social media, and onli...