Disclosing personal information online
Providing some personal information is essential in order to access many online services. Where information goes and who can access it are important considerations.
The following online activities generally require people to disclose some level of personal information.
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Online purchasing
Purchasing goods and services online requires personal information to verify the identity of the purchaser, financial information to process payments and often address information for the delivery of goods.
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Joining websites
Filling in forms is a requirement for users to join or register with most websites for contact and identity validation purposes. A red asterisk * generally identifies mandatory fields but some people are unaware of this and fill in all fields. A screen name or ID and an email address are often minimum requirements but other fields may include: age, gender, address, photo and personal likes or dislikes.
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Competitions, prizes, rewards
Online competitions often require entrants to provide extensive personal data about themselves including information about their interests and demographic details. Often this information is used by the promoters to develop their marketing strategies or products.
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Online games and virtual worlds
Many popular interactive game sites and virtual worlds require registration details, which may include personal information, before the user can begin to play.