By Agbai Sharonjoyce
In 2025, many people feel as though every digital move they make is being monitored. We share so much of our lives online, yet concerns about who is watching—and what they’re collecting—continue to grow.
The truth is that tech companies know a lot about us. Every day, we use websites and apps that quietly gather our personal information. This goes far beyond basic details like our names. It includes device IDs, browsing history, location and app activity.
Between 2023 and 2024, web tractors collected user-behaviour data in over 38 million incidents detected by Kaspersky analysis. That shows that users share data multiple times per day. This tracking is mostly done by major tech companies such as Google, which dominates global data collection.
Some social media apps are particularly data-hungry. Apps like Facebook and Instagram collect almost every category of data they can access from a user’s device.
These companies collect sensitive details that are personal and then display targeted advertisements for you.
Currently, about two-thirds of individuals in the world feel that major tech companies have way much control over their personal data.
As the awareness keeps growing, the government is trying to fight back. Data privacy is one of the most regulated topics globally. At the beginning of 2025, laws protecting consumer data became active in about 144 countries. This simply means that the data protection policy covers about 79% of the world’s population.
Regulators are becoming more strict about enforcing privacy laws. For instance, in 2024 the European Union issued €2.1 billion as a fine for violations of the general data protection regulation (GDPR).
Despite these efforts, a lot of people still feel powerless about their data. In the United States, 92% of individuals said they were worried about their privacy online; just a few understand the laws that protect them, and only about 3% think they know how the current privacy regulation actually works.
Researchers also revealed that 85% of companies need to improve their terms of service and privacy policy documents.
These policies are usually written in complicated and confusing language that makes users simply press agree, without reading or understanding the concept of what they are accepting.
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has also introduced current privacy concerns. About 78% of consumers believe that companies have a responsibility to use AI ethically, and about 57% see AI data collection and processing as a severe threat to privacy.
Most people worry that their information could be used in ways they never approved. Companies like Facebook, Google and TikTok are frequently flagged for their aggressive data-collection practices.
Meanwhile, privacy-focused alternatives like Mozilla Firefox and ProtonMail are gaining popularity for their commitment to user control.
Despite widespread anxiety, privacy isn’t dead. Instead, it has become a valuable asset. Companies that prioritise data protection actually benefit financially — earning an average return of 1.6 times what they spend on privacy measures.
Transparency builds trust: 81% of users say a company’s approach to data handling directly affects their confidence in that brand
Conclusion
Protecting your data in today’s world—one filled with advanced tracking tools and sophisticated cyberthreats—can feel overwhelming. But global regulations and growing consumer demand are forcing companies to change.
Ultimately, proving that you can treat user data ethically isn’t just responsible practice—it’s good business.
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