Wi-Fi router manufacturing companies have been in the spotlight due to the disclosure of a report from CNET showing how they collect and share user data.
Although they claim not to track the websites visited by Internet users, the reality is that collect personal information for marketing purposes. This raises legitimate concerns on consumer privacy and the need to understand the practices of these companies.
The Wi-Fi router is an essential component of the home Internet network, since all connected devices pass through it before reaching the cloud. This implies that a large amount of data flows through the routerraising privacy concerns.
The problem lies in the difficulty consumers face in obtaining accurate information about the privacy practices of router manufacturers. Data collection policies are complex, and in many cases privacy policies do not provide adequate transparency. Terms and conditions are often worded in a confusing and general way, making it difficult for the average consumer to understand.
The extension of privacy policies, key
Another challenge is the extension of these policies. Companies often write their policies to cover all of their products, services, and websites, which means that much of the information may not be relevant to routers. Besides, these policies are lengthy and written in complicated legal language that seeks to protect the business rather than inform the consumer.
Although some manufacturers are trying to simplify their policies, it still takes some careful reading to fully understand data usage. Also, when using external services, such as a virtual private network, it may be necessary to review multiple privacy policies.
During the investigation of privacy policies, the study found that most companies collect personal data for marketing purposesbut it is difficult to determine whether they specifically track users’ web activity.
However, Google stood out as the only exceptionstating that their Google Wifi and Nest Wifi devices do not track the websites visited, although they do collect other technical data related to Wi-Fi performance.
In addition, most companies also claim that they do not sell personal data, but there are exceptions. CommScope, for example, which makes network products for Arris, acknowledges in its privacy policy that it shares information, including identifiers and internet activity data, for marketing purposeswhich is considered a sale under the California Consumer Privacy Act.
Although some routers may not track websites visited, it’s important to note that they still collect data during normal use. This technical data is necessary for the proper functioning of the network and the detection of possible threats.
Finally, the use of data for marketing implies that it is shared with third parties. There is a risk that a company shares the data with a third party that is not under the user’s controlwhich allows a free use and disclosure of the data.