Why Creators and Consumers Need to Pay Attention to Data Practices at Big Tech Companies
Recently, I made a difficult but necessary discovery: many of the digital services we've trusted for years, and even pay for, are not as safe or private as we might think.
As both a creative professional and a paying customer, I’ve relied on platforms like Google Drive, Docs, Photos, and Gmail to store sensitive projects, business data, and even medical-related documents plus personal data. I’ve used services like Google One under the assumption that what I pay for is secure storage, not data mining.
However, recent reviews of Terms of Service and independent reporting have highlighted a concerning pattern. Major companies are scanning and indexing user data in ways that go far beyond basic functionality. These processes, often justified vaguely as "improving service" or "powering AI features," are not always transparent to users. They may include creative work, private business documents, and personal records.
In my case, I had original intellectual property stored on these platforms. The realization that my files were potentially being scanned or cataloged without my clear and informed consent was disturbing. Like many others, I instinctively began removing some of my files. But the fact that I had to take such action, especially as a paying subscriber, is a sign that something isn’t right.
Creators, whether musicians, writers, designers, or filmmakers, deserve true digital ownership and control. We don’t upload files to become unpaid data sources for AI models. We pay for services, and that relationship should come with respect and clear boundaries.
This isn’t just a creative issue. It's a consumer protection issue, and one that deserves attention.
What You Can Do
If you're concerned about how your data is being used, whether for personal or professional purposes, here are a few constructive steps you can take:
Consider documenting any affected personal or business files (without exposing sensitive information). For example, screenshots in list view that show file names and context may help demonstrate what was stored, without revealing private content.
Submit a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Let them know how this affects you as a consumer or business owner. You can file a report at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/.
File with your State Attorney General’s office: Each U.S. state has a consumer protection bureau that may investigate unfair practices. (For Arizona residents, you can file at https://www.azag.gov/consumer/complaint)
Review your account settings and consider moving sensitive or proprietary material to secure storage options that prioritize privacy and do not scan content. Best practice these days seems like local file storage only given tech companies are over reaching their relationship to us and their services.
Evaluate your continued use of Google services: Personally as a paying customer (soon non paying), I’ve begun reconsidering my use of products like Drive, Docs, Gmail, and Google One. Based on the information available and my own concerns about data scanning and AI use, I believe it’s worth exploring alternative providers that offer better transparency and respect for user privacy.
Final Thoughts
This situation is frustrating, disappointing, and honestly exhausting for those of us who just want to create freely and store our work securely. We shouldn't have to become legal analysts to protect our projects or personal information.
That’s why we need to raise awareness and demand better transparency and safeguards, especially for paying customers. Your voice matters. Don’t let the complexity of these systems silence you.
I encourage others to speak out, share your stories, and take action through the proper channels. It may seem like a small step, but it’s how we begin to shift the power back to consumers and creators where it belongs.
