In international marketing, social media pose an important dilemma about the privacy of personal information. Around the world, people freely release data about themselves through social networks online. Many teens post thousands of personal messages to social sites every month.

Google, Instagram, and countless other sites profit from the client information they supply to marketers and others with commercial goals. But social media facilitate scams and other fraudulent activity online. Information revealed online exposes teenagers to sexual predators. In China, authorities have used data provided online to find and persecute those who criticize the government. In Russia, authorities harass bloggers and others who expose corruption or criticize those in power. In most of the world, privacy laws are lax.

Anyone, including criminals and predators, can access confidential data. Some governments have passed laws protecting private information and prescribing penalties for violators. In Europe, governments may require Internet firms to obtain explicit consent from consumers about using their personal data, delete data at the consumer's request, and face fines for failure to comply. India requires companies to ensure the security of credit card numbers, personal health information, and other private information that consumers may provide online.

Critics claim that online providers are obliged to guard private information. Some assert that the Internet and social media cannot succeed unless private data are protected from misuse. Others argue it is unreasonable to expect information posted to social sites will remain private. Social media's complex network of connections provides seemingly limitless ways to disseminate information far and wide. Social media blur the boundary between private and public.

Questions

1. What is your view?

2. How should privacy issues be managed online? Should governments intervene to ensure private information is not misused? Should firms be required to obtain your consent before posting personal information online?

3. How can governments distinguish personal from public information? Given that websites may link to hundreds of other sites, how can social sites ensure personal communications are not disseminated around the Internet? Where do you draw the line?

4. Should market research using information gleaned online be outlawed?

5. Does Internet privacy imply that all information posted online remains private and confidential?