Mobile apps and online services make everyday tasks faster and more seamless. From shopping to scheduling, we often choose the most convenient digital options without a second thought. But convenience can come with a hidden price: our personal privacy.
When Convenience Trades Away Your Data
Many digital services offer something in return for basic personal information—perhaps a coupon, contest entry, or quick price quote. While these offers can seem harmless, they often involve collecting personal information that may be shared or sold without your clear permission.
In some cases, this information is passed along to telemarketers, leading to unwanted phone calls—even when you are listed on a “Do Not Call Registry.”
Shopping websites and apps also routinely ask for your name, email, phone number, or address, and track your purchases. This information may be shared with data brokers, who combine it with other data to build detailed profiles. These profiles are then sold again, creating even broader exposure.
Individually, each interaction may feel insignificant, but over time, these details accumulate into a comprehensive picture of your habits, identity, and interests.
Meaningful Consent: The Privacy You’re Owed
Organizations are responsible for safeguarding the personal information they collect, use, and disclose. To support informed decisions, individuals must be told—clearly and up front—how their data will be handled.
Meaningful consent requires that organizations explain:
- What personal information is being collected
- How it will be used and with whom it may be shared
- Why the information is needed
- Any meaningful risks or potential negative consequences
Importantly, you should never be required to consent to the collection, use, or disclosure of information that is not essential to delivering the service. For example, if an app does not need your precise location to function, that type of data should only be collected if you opt in, after reviewing an explanation that is easy to find and understand.
Being aware of consent requirements empowers you to decide what personal information is worth trading for convenience, and what is not.
When Convenience Turns into a Scam
Criminals also take advantage of our trust in digital systems. Scams may begin with alarming calls claiming you owe money or have missed jury duty, followed by threats of immediate arrest if you do not act. These messages are designed to provoke panic and push you into responding quickly.
You may be directed to what looks like an official website. Some scam sites include polished designs, government-style seals, or convincing URLs. There, you may be asked to provide sensitive personal information like your birthdate or Social Insurance Number.
While seeing https:// in a web address indicates encrypted data transmission, this signal alone does not guarantee that a site is legitimate—scammers can encrypt their sites, too.
A key reminder:
Legitimate law enforcement will never threaten arrest over the phone or demand payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or similar methods.
Why This Matters at UBC
Modern digital services depend on collecting and analyzing personal information. Many Canadians have expressed concern that organizations collect too much data and fail to protect it adequately.
Within a large institution like UBC, protecting personal information is a shared responsibility. Taking simple steps to understand how data is collected—and when sharing is optional—helps strengthen trust and protect our community.
By staying mindful of consent practices and choosing how and when to share information, you retain greater control over your privacy. These habits not only protect you, but also help safeguard the broader UBC environment.
Convenience is valuable, but your privacy is, too. With thoughtful choices, you can enjoy digital tools while keeping personal information secure.