Tracking and loss of privacy has become the norm in today’s tech. From government being able to compile data to pinpoint movements, to tech companies using voices and conversations to send targeted advertising, the idea of real privacy today means completely unplugging.

What this means in practice is the derailment of the intent of various laws and freedoms. For example, the 4th Amendment prohibits surveillance without a warrant, yet federal agencies such as ICE, FBI, and Secret Service buy location data, app usage information, and movement histories from commercial data brokers. This data comes from common mobile apps and can map a phone’s movements over time, which circumvents the intent of the amendment.

“What’s the point of all these laws that are supposed to protect us if these people are just going to find a loophole to do it anyway,” said senior Aya Bardawill. “It’s very unfair.”

Tech companies can operate in a gray area because most of their data collection is based on “opt in” rules. When people download an app or use a website, they automatically opt in to data tracking unless they take extra steps to turn it off. Most users don’t realize they’ve agreed because the information is hidden inside long, complicated terms of service that almost no one reads. These documents allow companies to say they follow the rules, even though people don’t actually understand what they’re agreeing to.

“It feels like we’re being signed up without really being asked,” said senior Emma Angeli. “They call it opt in, but it doesn’t feel like a real choice.”

The main counter to the issue of privacy is that if you have nothing to hide, then you should not have a problem with large scale data collection. It is the concept of privacy within a system that has almost no privacy, where a person is just one anonymous data point among millions. While that may be technically true, it only works if someone is comfortable being included in systems and decisions without their knowledge. For many people, the concern is not about doing something illegal, but about fairness and choice.

“I am not a criminal, but if tech companies are making money off of my information, I either want to take part or choose to be in this voluntarily,” said senior Gianluca Sperman. “I am a needle in a haystack, but I still want to know.”

This creates a bigger problem that is hard to solve. If the only real way to avoid being tracked is to disconnect from technology, then people are forced to choose between privacy and living a normal life. Most students, workers, and families rely on their phones and computers every day. School assignments are online, communication happens through apps, and even basic things like directions or banking depend on technology. Because of this, fully disconnecting is not realistic for most people.

Senior Valentina Perez explains this clearly.

“Even if you try to be careful, your information is still out there because everything we do is connected to something online.”

This illustrates that avoiding tracking is not just about personal choices. The system itself makes it almost impossible to stay private. Even small actions, like downloading an app or using a website, add to a larger digital profile that people cannot fully control.

Senior Nicolas Nauta adds to this idea by pointing out how slow laws are compared to technology.

“The government is always behind, and by the time they fix one problem, there are already ten new ones.”

This highlights the crux of this issue: Laws were created for a different time, and they cannot keep up with how fast technology changes. Because of this, companies and governments are able to move around these outdated laws without technically breaking them.

At the same time, senior Mateo Gomez brings up another concern about control.

“People think they are using technology, but a lot of the time technology is using them.”

This connects to how data is not only collected, but also used to influence behavior. Whether it be ads, recommendations, or content, technology can shape what people see and think, often without them realizing it.

All of this leads back to the main question. If the only way to stay private is to disconnect, is that really a solution? For most people, the answer is no. Technology is too important in everyday life to completely avoid. Instead of expecting individuals to disconnect, there needs to be a change in how laws are created and enforced. The erosion of privacy today is not the result of lawlessness, but of compliance without ethics, where companies follow outdated laws while defeating their original purpose. Governments need to catch up to modern technology so people are not forced to give up privacy just to participate in society.