The loss of Privacy

           Last night, I turned on the TV in my game room and there was a popup in the middle of the screen. My first thought was "what the heck is this". Then I remembered I had updated the software the day before due to another popup that said there was a new update available. So, I read what this new popup says and it mentions a privacy notice. So, I click the "OK" button to try and make it go away. A large caption opens explaining to me that if I do not agree to the Privacy notice, that I will not be able to use some of the apps on my smart TV. This was very alarming to me because, I usually say no to the sharing of my information. However, I did not want to lose the use of any of my apps, so I agreed. To my displeasure, there was a second box that popped up for a another privacy agreement with the same threat. Even though I agreed to this one as well, I am not happy that I had to make these agreements in order to use my product. Consumers around the world are facing this everyday.  It doesn't seem like we really have a choice in the matter.
        The same thing happens when people surf the web. Many Internet users cannot identify the most basic tracking tool on the Internet: the cookie. In an August 2000 study conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 56% of Internet users could not identify a cookie. It remains unknown whether individuals can identify more sophisticated tracking tools, such as "web bugs" or "spyware." Your internet usage is being tracked weather you want it to be or not.