Stories

Thu, 05 Mar 2026

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 We have more privacy controls yet less privacy than ever

Has online privacy become "a luxury not a right" for us all in 2026?

* Online privacy has become a luxury rather than a right, according to Thomas Bunting, an analyst at Nesta.
* In 2026, smart home appliances like fridges may share information about their owners' habits with health insurers.
* Thomas believes that people have been "taught how to deal with" online privacy rather than actually having it as a right.
* Cybersecurity expert Prof Alan Woodward argues that people should care about online privacy because it affects who has power over their lives.
* He suggests that people are self-censoring due to the fear of being tracked and monitored, which can harm free speech and democracy.
* The tech sector has created tools and settings meant to protect online privacy, but breaches and hacks continue to compromise user data.
* According to Statista, 1.35 billion people were affected by compromised data in 2024.
* Experts argue that the "privacy paradox" exists, where people claim to care about their online privacy but don't take action to protect it.
* Dr Carissa Veliz suggests that regulators need to do a better job of framing and enforcing laws to protect online privacy.
* Tech companies like Meta and Apple offer features to help users manage their online presence, but often at a premium price.