Final answer:
Customers should have control over their private data to protect their personal, financial, and medical information from unauthorized access and misuse. Despite protections like the COPPA, many individuals feel they lack control over their data collected by companies and the government, highlighting the importance of reinforcing privacy rights and awareness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Customers should have control over their private data because it encompasses personal, financial, and medical information that requires protection to maintain privacy and security. The threat of identity theft and misuse of personal data by private or governmental entities makes the control of personal data a crucial aspect for individuals. Major data breaches at companies and the concerns over government surveillance show the importance of allowing individuals to dictate how their information is used and shared.
State and federal laws, such as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, protect personal cyber data and grant some level of control to users. However, with the growing online presence, 81 percent of people feel they lack control over the data collected by companies, and a similar sentiment extends towards government data collection. To protect their data, individuals need to assert their privacy rights, be vigilant in reading privacy policies, and be cautious about the information they share.
The ongoing debate between individual privacy and government regulation exemplifies the tension between the need for community safety and the right to privacy. Individuals' concerns about data use reflect their desire to maintain control over their information to prevent unauthorized access and misuse of their personal details.