Internet Privacy & Your Health: Shedding Light on New Consequences
Using the Internet as a quick and easy tool for information has become second nature, but have we lost sight of the dangers associated with some of our online activities? Take for instance, your health. Now you might ask how the state of your health has anything to do with Internet privacy? Well, here are some recent stories that will shed light on how your Internet usage can cause big problems for your health—and your privacy.
Take, for example, the recent story of a Canadian woman, a Quebec resident, who was denied health benefits because of information found on her Facebook page. It’s true. Nathalie Blanchard had been on long-term sick leave when she was finally diagnosed with major depression. For a year and a half, she lived off of benefits provided by her health insurance company, Manulife. That all changed when Manulife looked at her Facebook profile.
By accessing her personal Facebook profile and perceived activities, Manulife found pictures that they say depicted Nathalie having fun, relaxing at the beach, and hanging out at clubs, which led to their assertion that she couldn’t be “majorly depressed”, and thereby did not qualify for continuing benefits. The case is currently in a Canadian court, but the repercussions of the verdict will have ongoing consequences for everyone who uses the Internet and values their privacy.
But it doesn’t stop there, the risks of online searches for health related topics and participation in forums are also mounting. Beginning with the well known fact that search engines retain all of our Internet searches (which, in itself, is a violation of our privacy), let’s use an example where someone searches for a hot topic such as “abortion”. The search results might include forums where people discuss their own experiences, their experiences with friends, their fears, etc.
Participating in these types of online destinations can have some costly consequences. By simply searching for controversial topics and posting in forums or chat rooms where similar issues are discussed, an Internet profile is being built that may have huge implications years down the line. If healthcare providers or employers can find ways to access this information, and then link it to you, they can potentially:
- Deem you as a risk and deny healthcare coverage
- Draw conclusions about your abilities as an employee
- Imply that because you have searched for these types of topics that you might also be prone to other illnesses
- Assume that the people you surround yourself with have similar attitudes
- Deny promotions based solely on your search histories
The point of this article is simple, the Internet is a wonderful tool that continues to enhance our lives, but you must take your privacy into account and understand the far-reaching consequences of even simple Web searches. In short, protecting your online activities and educating yourself on growing dangers are the only way to ensure a safe Internet experience.