Everything You Do Online Is Being Monitored: Your Mouse Movements and Website Visits Are Under Surveillance!
Cairo – Mohamed Makhlouf
In today’s digital age, where data controls various aspects of our daily lives, privacy has become one of the most controversial issues. Especially as large companies and social media platforms collect vast amounts of personal data from users and continuously analyze their behavior for commercial or political purposes. While this widespread use of data reflects tremendous technological advancement, it also raises significant questions about the extent to which privacy is respected and protected.
In this context, Egyptian expert Mohamed Mohsen Ramadan, a cyber security and cyber crime advisor, explained that personal data is now one of the most valuable resources. Big companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon continuously collect this data through the internet. In an exclusive interview with “Al Arabiya,” he further explained that this data can include personal information, browsing behavior, online shopping, and even interactions on social media platforms.
Data Analysis
Ramadan went on to say that using modern techniques in artificial intelligence and big data analysis, companies analyze this data to extract specific patterns and behaviors. Through this, accurate models can be built to predict future consumer trends. He also revealed that during this process, companies track users’ mouse movements and the time spent clicking on links to create a comprehensive profile of users. This allows them to target users with personalized ads. This raises significant challenges in protecting privacy.
He pointed out that users voluntarily provide their data to various websites and services. However, many companies fail to properly inform users about how this data will be used, and transparency is often lacking. In many cases, user data is collected without their full knowledge or consent.
Violation of Privacy Beyond Data Theft
Ramadan clarified that privacy violations are no longer limited to data theft or hacking personal accounts. It also includes targeting individuals with ads or analyzing their behavior patterns to manipulate their political or social tendencies. For example, past studies have shown that platforms like Facebook have exploited users’ data for political campaigns without their consent. This has raised major ethical questions about the use of data.
He emphasized that users should take a more active role in protecting their personal data, as they need more awareness about their rights in this area. Users should be aware of privacy protection tools and understand data settings on social media sites.
Responsibility of Companies
Ramadan further stressed that companies must fulfill their responsibility to provide full transparency on how they collect and use user data. He noted that there is no clear balance between exploiting data for innovation and commercial benefits, and protecting individuals’ privacy. He emphasized that privacy protection is not just a legal right but also an essential part of the concept of humanity in the digital age.
