In other words, some sort of Google Chrome alternative browser. Well, there’s a bit of nuance to this answer, but here are a few easy places to start.įirst, when you’re searching to buy something on Amazon, use a web browser that automatically blocks third party cookies. If you’re not willing to delete your Amazon account but you’re also not comfortable with all the data Amazon collects, what is that middle ground option? If you go into your Amazon app and click on the three bars on the menu, find where it says “Permissions”. You have a bit more control on a mobile device, though. Amazon Privacy Settings on Mobile Devices Amazon’s still tracking you, the only difference is that the ads are dumber. I’ll be honest, though, neither of these are a big deal. US consumers, on the other hand, only have the option to turn off interest-based ads, we’re not given custom cookie preferences. You can also turn off interest-based ads. For those in the EU, thanks to GDPR, you have the option to set custom cookie preferences, which are those pieces of code that follow you around to show you personalized ads. You’re welcome to search around, but you won’t find a “Privacy Settings” section in your Amazon account. So if we’re not going to delete our Amazon account, what other options do we have? Easiest Solution: Limit Data Settings I know there are a few of you who are willing to live without the convenience that Amazon provides, but I’m going to assume that most of us aren’t willing to take that drastic step. And for most people living in the US, it’s practically impossible. The only way to stop Amazon from tracking you completely is to delete your Amazon account. How to Stop Amazon from Tracking YouĪnd if at this point you’re not at least a little bit concerned about the data Amazon has on you, I don’t know what to tell you.įor the rest of us, though, let’s talk about whether or not it’s possible to stop, or at the very least limit, what Amazon can track about us. Who are Amazon’s subsidiaries, you ask? Well did you know that Amazon owns, Zappos, Twitch, IMDb and Whole Foods Market among about 40 others companies?Īlthough the connection between your interactions with these companies and your Amazon file might not be as direct, it does exist. Information from third-party delivery companies.Your credit history from credit bureaus as part of their fraud prevention.The third type of information Amazon collects on you is what they receive from 3rd-party companies.Įxamples of this external data would be stuff like: Now Amazon has said in their privacy policy that they are not in the business of selling this data to anybody else, so you don’t really have to worry about that.īut the kind of profile they’re able to build on us is alarming and it’s one of many reasons why regulators are trying to break up big tech companies. Every scroll and click you make on the website.Log of every record of motion on your Ring doorbell log.Recordings of every request made of Alexa.Your IP address, which provides your general location.The device you’re using (iOS, Android, mobile, desktop, etc.).I mean, sure, it makes sense that they track what kind of products you’re looking to buy, but they also track metadata such as: The second type of information Amazon collects, which I’ll call your metadata, is a bit shadier. They’re literally just storing the troves of information you’re giving them. The point here is that Amazon isn’t doing anything underhanded here. They haven’t stolen that data or taken it without your knowledge. Obviously, in order for us to make purchases and have them delivered, providing this kind of data is necessary. We browse their website, use their apps, purchase products, give them our credit card info, address for delivery and so on. The first and most obvious way is the data we voluntarily give them.
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