Explicit vs. Implicit Data Collection

[Jahangir307]

There’s a stark difference between what you knowingly share and what’s quietly collected in the background.

Explicit Data Collection
This is the data you know you're giving:

Filling out a profile

Posting on social media

Accepting cookies (even if begrudgingly)

Sharing your location for food delivery

Even then, the terms are often hidden in privacy policies vietnam phone number list few read. Consent is technically granted, but it's frequently coerced or uninformed.

Implicit Data Collection
This is the data you often don’t realize is being collected:

Passive sensor activity (e.g., motion detection)

Background app activity

SDKs that continue gathering even after uninstall

IP address tracking

Behavioral signals (e.g., how fast you scroll)

TikTok, for example, has been accused of collecting clipboard data, while Facebook was caught using microphone access for ambient listening (a claim it denies, though users remain skeptical).