🔍 Your Data Is Shared and Sold… What’s Being Done About It?

Focus keyword: your data is shared | Estimated read time: 7 minutes

Every swipe, click, and voice command you make may be silently collected—and sold. In 2025, data is currency, and you’re the product. But new laws, tools, and public awareness are slowly shifting power back to users. Here's what’s really happening, and what you can do about it.

🧠 Who’s Collecting and Selling Your Data?

Most of your data isn’t stolen—it’s legally harvested. The top culprits:

📱 Apps & Platforms – social media, fitness trackers, browsers
🖥️ Smart Devices – TVs, assistants (like Alexa), cars
🛒 Retailers & eCommerce – loyalty programs, online purchases
🕵️‍♂️ Data Brokers – firms like Acxiom, Experian, and Oracle aggregate and resell it

Example: One data broker was found selling location history of military personnel—for just a few cents per user.

💰 What Kind of Data Is Being Sold?

Type of Data	Examples	Why It’s Valuable
Behavioral Data	Clicks, app usage, dwell time	Targeted ads & predictive analytics
Location Data	GPS pings, check-ins, travel routes	Geo-targeted marketing, surveillance
Biometric Data	Face scans, fingerprints, heart rate	Identity verification, insurance pricing
Personal Identifiers	Name, email, phone number, device IDs	Cross-device targeting, profiling

Most users unknowingly consent to this through vague privacy policies.

🛡️ How to Defend Your Privacy: Practical Solutions

Here are proactive steps to reduce your data exposure:

Turn off location services unless essential
Don’t use social logins (like “Sign in with Facebook”)
Avoid quizzes and giveaways that request access to contacts or personal details

2. 🔐 Strengthen Your Privacy Settings

Adjust app permissions regularly
Set browsers to delete cookies on exit
Opt out of personalized ads on Google, Meta, TikTok, etc.

3. 🧹 Clean Up Your Digital Footprint

Use account-deletion tools (e.g., JustDeleteMe)
Revoke third-party app access from Google/Facebook security dashboards
Delete inactive social media, email, and cloud accounts

4. 🧰 Use Tech to Your Advantage

Set up email aliasing (via SimpleLogin or Firefox Relay)
Block trackers with tools like Privacy Badger, Ghostery, or uBlock Origin
Use encrypted services (e.g., Signal, ProtonMail)

5. ✉️ Exercise Your Legal Rights

Send data deletion or opt-out requests using tools like Incogni or DeleteMe
Request data transparency reports under GDPR or CPRA laws
Enable “Do Not Sell My Info” where applicable

📢 Pro tip: Use a dedicated throwaway email for shopping, newsletters, or app trials.

🏛️ What Laws Are Trying to Stop It?

🌍 Global Laws

GDPR (EU) – Requires explicit consent, right to be forgotten
PIPEDA (Canada) – Focus on business accountability & transparency
DPDP Act (India) – Introduced stricter cross-border data rules in 2024

🇺🇸 United States: A Patchwork

California’s CPRA – Lets residents opt out of sale/sharing
Colorado & Virginia Laws – Expanding user rights to data access & deletion

📌 As of 2025, 13 U.S. states have enacted or proposed digital privacy laws.

🔒 Tools That Give You Control

Tool/Platform	What It Does	Cost
Jumbo Privacy	All-in-one privacy manager for iOS/Android	Free/$
Incogni (by Surfshark)	Sends data removal requests to brokers	Paid
Firefox w/ uBlock	Stops most trackers on websites	Free
Apple App Privacy Reports	Shows app tracking behavior	Free (iOS only)
SimpleLogin	Email aliasing, stops data correlation	Free/$
ProtonVPN + ProtonMail	Encrypts traffic and communication	Free/$

🧭 What You Can Do to Protect Yourself Today

✅ Opt out of data sales from major platforms (Google, Meta, etc.)
🔒 Use VPNs and secure browsers like Brave or DuckDuckGo
📱 Limit app permissions—especially location and microphone access
📨 Unsubscribe from unnecessary services that share/sell data
🧼 Regularly delete old accounts you no longer use
🆔 Use multiple identities for online shopping, work, and personal life
🛡️ Review privacy dashboards offered by iOS, Android, or browser vendors

❓ FAQ

Can I stop companies from selling my data completely?

Not fully, but you can minimize exposure through settings, tools, and opting out via platforms or laws (like CPRA).

Is all data collection bad?

No. Some data helps improve services (e.g., crash logs, accessibility settings). The issue is lack of control and resale.

What’s the difference between first-party and third-party data?

First-party data is collected by the service you use; third-party data is resold or shared with advertisers or brokers.

Your Data Is Shared and Sold: Here's How to Take Back Control in 2025