New
#1
Internet sites/services requiring intrusive information
I can't really find a more appropriate place to post this, but I have to get this off my chest. More and more, major sites like Google, Youtube, Yahoo!, Microsoft, and so on, want me to provide a ridiculous level of personal information to create a simple email or user account. They want a MOBILE NUMBER, often with the pretense of it being needed for some security BS. I give my mobile number to NO ONE except IMMEDIATE family and select close friends. Hell, I'd rather give out my land line number than my mobile number. Many people don't even have a mobile phone. They have NO LEGITIMATE BUSINESS NEED to require a mobile number to set up a simple email account or video sharing account.
Not to mention sites that constantly want to link to a Facebook account or other social media accounts. I should be able to keep SEPARATE, un-linked accounts. I value my privacy and in some cases that means I want to keep separate online identities on different sites and services. There is obviously a massive push by the Powers That Be to force us into using easily identifiable online accounts across the board. It's only a matter of time before they require you to use your SSN and a DNA sample to register an account.
I don't know how to fight back, other than to complain like this, and refuse to use services that require such intrusive information for no legitimate reason. There desperately needs to be some kind of Online Bill of Rights to protect internet user's privacy and anonymity from these kinds of data mining schemes.