While the seemingly negative news today may appear shocking at first glance, it's important for readers to remember that PayPal has over seven months to rectify the situation. Currently, the issue revolves around the automatic sharing of data with external parties, as the well-known digital payment platform has introduced a "Personalized shopping" option and opted to activate data sharing by default, rather than leaving it unchecked.
Understanding the New Setting
The new setting described above is clearly highlighted with the statement, "Let us share products, offers, and rewards you might like with participating stores." It also notes that PayPal aims to create "more personal experiences" for users "starting early summer 2025." Additionally, users are informed that they can choose to opt in or out "at any time by adjusting this setting," which begs the fundamental question: Why not have this setting turned off by default?
Managing Data Sharing
At present, users can easily navigate to Settings > Data & Privacy > Manage shared info > Personalized shopping to disable the data sharing for personalized shopping experiences. However, a significant issue still exists. According to PayPal's Privacy Policy, any information shared with third parties that is deemed necessary for completing transactions can be used according to those third parties' privacy policies, regardless of the settings users have chosen in their PayPal accounts.
The Privacy Concern
Ultimately, it seems that no matter what unfolds with the personalized experience offered by the digital payment service, users who are concerned about their data privacy must also review the privacy policies of the third parties they decide to transact with through PayPal.
For those interested in learning more about PayPal's background, they can currently find "The Founders: The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley" available in four formats (audiobook, Kindle, hardcover, and paperback), starting at just $0.99 for the audiobook with membership.
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