Facebook and Google Are Manipulating Users into Giving Up Their Data, New Report Says

Tech companies like Facebook and Google have been forced to revise their privacy policies in order to comply with the new laws put down by the EU. However, a new report suggests that these companies are now trying to trick users into giving up their private data instead. In some examples, the option to refuse certain features are intentionally hidden so that users are just forced to agree.

The report came via the Norwegian Consumer Council, which cites a study that looked into the matter. Titled “Deceived By Design,” it highlights the tactics used by tech companies to manipulate users into giving up their private information. Suffice it to say, calling such methods underhanded wouldn’t be a stretch.

“The findings include privacy intrusive default settings, misleading wording, giving users an illusion of control, hiding away privacy-friendly choices, take-it-or-leave-it choices, and choice architectures where choosing the privacy-friendly option requires more effort for the users,” the report reads.

In other words, tech giants are now using blunt force in order to gain the data they need from users to keep making money. Whereas they were employing tactics that were more about stealth previously, the EU’s new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) forced a change of strategy. The result is an in-your-face approach where users are more directly deceived or downright pressured.

As noted by Fortune, such tactics are not new. Many instances of tech companies using manipulative methods have been observed before. One example is how Facebook’s facial recognition feature makes it quite difficult to refuse the option of having the faces of users scanned. Whereas the option to agree is highlighted as a bright blue box, the option to refuse involves fiddling with the “manage data settings.”

In response to these complaints, tech companies can only say that their methods are in compliance with the laws. Sadly, this might be the only thing they need to point out in order to get away with such tactics.