What is Global Privacy Control?

October 21, 2021

It’s no secret that the internet is a dangerous place. Over 80% of people say they are concerned about their privacy when it comes to browsing online, and this number rises dramatically when you look at young adults who are involved in social media. This has led to the development of software like Global Privacy Control (GPC) which allows users to maintain control over their personal information by allowing them to set what they share with whom. GPC offers users complete anonymity while still giving them access to all websites without any restrictions or censorship. It also ensures that your location will not be tracked, keeping you safe from cybercriminals, hackers and stalkers alike.

Global Privacy control (GPC) was developed by a coalition of rights group publishers, browser developers and technology companies. GPC allows users allowing access via the browser to indicate their set of privacy controls. This indicates consumers’ expectation about sharing and selling information online. Only some browsers and plug-ins have GPC and compliance is optional. The browsers and extensions included Abine Brace, Disconnect, DuckDuckGo, OptMeowt, and Privacy Badger.

CookiePro carries this initiative in partnership with compliance programs supporting consumer choices and rights. These signals are also respected by major websites such as Facebook, Google, Twitter and Amazon. GPC is based on the coalition of groups that develop guidelines for privacy by design in compliance with PbD principles to respect consumer choices when they are collecting information online. GPC also supports industry self-regulation efforts led by Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) in North America to improve transparency regarding data collection practices.

GPC is a browser-based privacy settings system that allows users to indicate their preferences for data collection and sharing online. GPC was developed by the Digital Advertising Alliance in coalition with other industry groups including Europrivacy, The Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) and IAB Europe. GPC makes it easier for consumers to protect themselves from unwanted data collection while making it easier for websites to comply with their own privacy policies. GPC could help consumers avoid targeted advertising by allowing them to opt out of being tracked online, but GPC is not an “opt-out” mechanism itself because GPC does not change or interfere in any way with the website experience that users have made available; instead GPC is a browser-based privacy settings system that allows users to indicate their preferences for data collection and sharing online.

GPC was introduced in 2012 as an industry self-regulation effort and GPC aims to promote consumer choice or control over the use of information about them by companies whose websites they visit, particularly sensitive categories such as financial, health and children’s information. GPC is mainly an industry initiative and GPC does not provide a mechanism for consumers to opt out of online behavioral advertising (OBA) across all devices or from companies that do not participate in GPC, nor does GPC prevent the use of OBA tools by those who choose to join GPC.

G-P-C stands for Global Privacy Control which was created as a coalition between browser developers and technology companies with rights group publishers so users can indicate their set of privacy controls globally on any website they go onto. This indicates consumer expectation about sharing and selling information online only some browsers have this compliance being optional too.

Privacy, in the digital age, is a hotly debated topic. GPC refers to Global Privacy Control which is an organization that has been formed for the purposes of creating and maintaining global privacy standards. GPC was founded by major technology companies such as Apple Inc., Google Inc., Microsoft Corporation, and Facebook Inc. GPC’s goal is to ensure that all people around the world have access to data protection and privacy rights on an international level though GPC’s work with governments and other industry players. GPC has proposed a set of principles which have been adopted by the G20. GPC is currently working with organizations such as the UN and World Economic Forum in order to bring together policymakers, regulators, companies, international organizations, civil society groups and other stakeholders around privacy protection.

GPC’s fundamental principles are:

Transparency
Purpose Limitation
Data Minimization
Accuracy
Data Minimization
Accountability

GPC’s work on privacy protection is aimed at giving people control over their information. GPC’s principles are based around four basic ideas:

Transparency – Being able to understand who has access to your data and why they have that access gives you the power of control. GPC’s approach is to ensure that companies provide their users with transparency and explanations about how they use data, why it is collected and what will happen if the user does not consent. Consent – GPC believes that giving people control over their information also means having a clear understanding of when you agree or disagree to something happening with your data. GPC’s approach is to ensure that companies give their users clear and transparent opportunities to agree or disagree with what they are asked to do with personal information GPC’s Principles on Consent

Companies should seek consent for the collection, use, storage and sharing of data
Companies need to be able use data in order provide their service
GPC believes that companies should not ask for consent to use data where there is no choice or when it is irrelevant GPC’s Principles on Consent

Purpose Limitation – GPC’s approach ensures that the period of time over which any information will be used matches its purpose. GPC suggests limiting collection and retention of data to that which is necessary and proportionate GPC’s Principles on Purpose Limitation

Data Minimization – GPC’s approach suggests companies only collect as much information as they need for a specific reason. GPC believes users should be able to access their own data and delete it if required GPC’s Principles on Data Minimization

Accountability – GPC believes that accountability is a key part of privacy protection. GPC’s approach on accountability ensures companies give users the ability to challenge how their data is being used, access and rectify inaccurate information and be able to delete it if they wish GPC’s Principles on Accountability

GPC’s work in this area is aimed at helping companies and individuals to work together on privacy protection GPC’s Principles of Respect for Privacy

GPC believes that all organizations should:
Be transparent about how they collect, use and share data with others
Give users meaningful choices over their personal information GPC’s Principle on Accountability

GPC also suggests that companies should:

Ensure they are accountable GPC’s Principle on Accountability

GPC believes that the G20, UN and other organizations have an important role to play in promoting privacy protection GPC’s Principles of Cooperation with Organizations & Governments GPC also believes that national governments must respect their citizens’ right to control how their data is used GPC’s Principles on Cooperation with Organizations & Governments.

The founding members are:

GPC is a unique coalition of leading privacy organizations from around the world
GPC’s members are national and regional, non-profit associations GPC’s Founding Members

GPC’s Principles GPC believes that all organizations should:

Be transparent about how they collect, use and share data with others GPC’s Principle on Transparency
Giver users meaningful choices over their personal information GPC’s Principle of Consent. GPC also suggests that companies should: – Ensure they are accountable GPC’s Principle of Accountability GPC believes that the G20, UN and other organizations have an important role to play in promoting privacy protection GPC’s Principles of Cooperation with Organizations & Governments GPC also believes that national governments must respect their citizens’ right to control how their data is used GPC’s Principles on Cooperation with Organizations & Governments.

The Internet is an amazing resource. It’s also the most dangerous place on earth, because it has no rules or laws like we do in society. You should be concerned about your privacy and how companies use your data to target you with ads for products that may not suit your needs at all! Luckily there are tools out there like Global Privacy Control that can help you keep track of what information you share where so that when a company asks if they can have this same information, you’ll know whether or not to agree. Give Global Privacy Control a try today!