The terms of service (ToS)* are the rules a user must agree to before using a particular online service. ToS vary but they generally include what the user can and cannot do with the service, what personal data the user is agreeing to share, and how that data will be used by the company.
* Terms of Service (ToS): the rules a user must agree to before using a particular online service. ToS vary but
they generally include what the user can and cannot do with the service, what personal data the user is agreeing
to share, and how that data will be used by he company.
Manufactured consent
Many companies use their ToS to manufacture user-consent. ToS are often over-written, hyper-vague, and filled with obscure legal language that render the agreement virtually unreadable for the average person. This is dangerous because buried within ToS are potentially invasive surveillance practices, such as passive data collection from your laptop’s microphone, or ongoing geo-location tracking.
GDPR
On May 25, 2018, the European Union enacted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),* which legally forced many online companies to change their terms of service agreements. This regulation required that all terms of service are written in simplified, readable language, specifically concerning what the user is actually consenting to.
While the GDPR is a step in the right direction, many updated ToS are still problematic for the same reasons. Terms of Service; Didn’t Read is a useful website that translates lengthy ToS into clear and readable summaries.
