From Bookstore to Big Brother: How Amazon Tracks Your Every Move and What To Do About It

Amazon began as a small online bookstore in 1994, founded by Jeff Bezos in his garage in Seattle. Initially, it aimed to leverage the internet's burgeoning potential to offer a vast selection of books to customers worldwide. However, Amazon rapidly expanded its product offerings, evolving into the world's largest online retailer. As the company diversified into various services and products, including cloud computing, streaming media, smart home devices, and artificial intelligence, it amassed vast amounts of user data. This data collection, initially intended to enhance user experience and optimize services, has grown into extensive surveillance practices.

Today, Amazon tracks and analyzes a wide array of user activities, from shopping habits and media consumption to home security footage, positioning itself as a surveillance-heavy entity that continuously gathers and utilizes personal data for its operations and targeted advertising.

Convenience often comes at the cost of privacy and, among the many tech companies, Amazon stands out for its extensive data collection practices in commerce, monitoring nearly every interaction you have with its services. From your shopping habits to your viewing preferences, Amazon tracks a staggering amount of information. Understanding how Amazon tracks you and learning how to limit this surveillance is crucial for maintaining your privacy.

The Depth of Data Collection

When you consider the data you voluntarily provide to Amazon, the first things that come to mind might be your name, address, and payment information. However, the reality is much broader and more intricate. Every interaction you have with Amazon’s ecosystem feeds into a comprehensive profile that Amazon builds about you. This data extends across various facets of their services, from shopping habits to media consumption and beyond.

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