Daisy (32) felt spied on by online advertisements
A few months ago, my father passed away. It was a difficult and sad time. I had to arrange the funeral. That is why I visited websites of several undertakers. I searched for locations, catering, and other practical matters.
It felt as if companies knew what was happening in my life.
After a few days, I saw advertisements for funeral services everywhere. On new sites, social media, and even during online shopping. Everywhere I looked, I saw adverts for funeral locations, death announcement cards, and flowers. I though it very confrontational. It felt as if companies knew exactly what was happening in my life. And used that now to sell services to me.
Later I read on the website of the Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (AP) how companies, for example by means of cookies, can obtain my data. Often, people give consent for cookies without thinking. Cookies can track your movements online. Companies know which websites you visit, what you read, and what you are looking for. Companies may share this information with advertising companies. As a result, you are shown advertisements that fit your situation, even if that situation is very painful. I had never given that a proper thought.
Now I know how companies can obtain my data.
I think that is quite scary. It feels as if I am secretly followed. Now I know that I do not have to accept all cookies just like that. Now I look closely at which cookies I really want to accept. This way, I keep more control. I also tell this to friends and family. I think it is important that people know what happens with their data online.
Did you know that...
- By accepting all cookies, you often give websites consent for collecting and sharing your data? Maybe with hundreds of companies that you do not know. Does a website or app ask you to accept cookies? Make a conscious choice then. Think about which cookies you want to accept.
- You can protect your privacy better by adjusting your browser settings? You can, for example, share fewer data with websites that you visit. In some browsers, you can also choose to block some cookies automatically.
- The AP increasingly often checks if websites and apps ask correctly for consent for placing cookies? If they fail to do this, the AP may intervene. For example, by fining them. Also see: Fine of 600,000 euros imposed for tracking cookies on Kruidvat.nl (in Dutch) and Fine of 40,000 euros imposed on Coolblue for unsolicited use of cookies.
- You may ask websites and apps which data they have of you and how they use them?
More information
* The privacy stories on this website are based on actual reports to the AP. Due to the privacy of those involved, the personal data and some circumstances have been changed. We use models (stock photography) for the images in these stories.
Why is protecting personal data so important? These people share what happened to them.