Friend or Foe?

The last few months have witnessed extensive debates on invasion of privacy, monopolization, and commercialization of subscriber data by the likes of Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, and similar social media giants. These mediums are pervasively becoming part and parcel of people's daily lives. Due to this fast movement the government, citizen groups, as well as judiciary are alarmed. In many consumer surveys subscribers are perennially raising their concerns about privacy, and that they are being invaded with unsolicited advertisements and other marketing mailers.

There is no denying the fact that search engines and social media sites are assembling huge amount of subscriber data-name, age, sex, address, education, job, so on and so forth. Deploying leading edge technologies in creating accurate profiling and real time location is becoming child's play-things like Google Glass, Google Street View are all part of the drive. Some of these service providers are using user data from one service to feed the other. Most of us are aware of the process of sharing information with one service which will eventually be shared with marketers and tele-callers who will flood us with phone calls and emails. Apart from breaching privacy, there are many cases of such information being stolen and misused. I don't think it is a big secret anymore. We are aware of the cons, but many still continue to experiment with the new online world.

A surprising aspect of the situation is that the number of subscribers in this medium of Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter are increasing at a break-neck speed. This growth demonstrates that consumers are not much concerned about the present situation. The question now arises ‘will the users stop subscribing because there is threat to their privacy, or that the service provider is becoming a big monopoly?' I do not think so. On the contrary, I think if any government today decides to shut down Google or Facebook, there will be civil uproar. I personally believe that these sites are outstanding technologies created by mankind, and will only continue to grow with time and new innovations.

Statistically, the internet has not witnessed an impressive growth. Against the 650 mn mobile phoneusers, India has 150 mn internet users, out of which only about 100 mn are active users. And out of the total base, about 75% are in urban areas, and the rest in semi-urban. Yet in 2012, the value of e-commerce in India was calculated at about $14 bn. And over 70% of usage is travel related, thanks to IRCTC, and the various air travel websites. Online retail was to the tune of $300 mn. Internet pundits strongly believe that e-commerce is only going to grow from here. Surely, despite various issues, user experience of internet and e-commerce is improving and confidence is building up.

While the consumer numbers and business prospects are growing despite concerns, the governments and the bureaucrats are biting their nails. If real time services can help locate and time when the Home Minister of India or a senior nuclear scientist is taking a walk in the Lodi Gardens in Delhi, it is a matter of major concern, as this information could be misused by criminals or enemies. The government is also worried. Dealing with the government's concern is not easy, Google and similar service providers will have to innovate and find new technologies or systems to satisfy the governments' queries and concerns in order to avoid a showdown like China.

Therefore it is important that the service providers win the hearts of consumers as well as that of the government-and not become bullies who believe in the ‘my way or high way' approach. The way through is that the service providers have to be partners of growth and not commission agents of marketers, or agents of industries and countries looking for domination. This shall be in the common interest of all.