As products, we're being exploited

Since March, hackers have had access to 143 million Americans’ most sensitive personal information.

Their credit cards, social security numbers, birth dates, addresses and much more had been open to exploitation. And the company supposedly keeping watch over that information, Equifax, didn’t even realize it for four months.

What’s ironic about the fact that millions of us are now exposed to identity theft is that none of us even had a choice. Equifax takes our information, as one of the three major credit reporting agencies, without our permission. And we have no way to demand the company relinquish the data it has stored on us. 

Reports indicate that Equifax was aware of a massive hole in its security system prior to the hack occurring. No effort was made to seal it. In fact, the company lobbied Congress to roll back regulations on disclosing data security breaches and tried to reduce the amount the company would have to pay if sued by consumers. 

So what course of action does the public have after Equifax knowingly and willingly stored our personal information on insecure servers? We can’t boycott the company, because we aren’t their customers. We’re their product.

If an individual breaks the law, by selling heroin or robbing a bank, it’s a reasonable expectation that eventually they’ll be caught and justice will be done. But when a corporation, like Equifax, or Wells Fargo, or Goldman Sachs, or Bear Stearns or any number of corporations who have treated millions of Americans unfairly through gross negligence and breaking the law, they’re slapped with a pathetic fine and allowed to return to the same shady business practices as before. No one goes to jail.

There’s something wrong with that picture. Justice only applies to normal people. Fabulously wealthy CEOs can commit a crime and they just have to “retire” with a multimillion dollar golden parachute.

Regarding corporate malfeasance, our collective memory is far too short. A company does something despicable one year, and its stocks are soaring the next. 

But why, after doing things seemingly so stupid and reckless, does nothing happen?

The answer is a sad one.

Corporations are the entities with power in this country. And they’re further consolidating it every day.

How does Facebook make it’s money? By selling your personal browsing habits and information to the highest bidder. 

What about Google? Every search you’ve ever made is a gold-mine for advertisers.

What about your email service? In those pesky terms and conditions, you approved that your email provider scans each email you send, forwarding it to companies and the NSA for analysis.

Inevitably, the company will face a class-action lawsuit. And, whether it wins or loses, it will be back lobbying Congress to prevent having to pay out money in future class-action lawsuits.

Because to Equifax and so many other mega-corporations, we don’t matter. We’re not a customer or consumer to be wooed and pleased. We’re a product to be exploited then tossed aside in favor of maximum profits for shareholders.