Big Tech is Hungry for Consumer Data. Mass. Needs Privacy Legislation Now
Document Type
Opinion
Publication Date
3-4-2026
Publisher
WBUR
Language
en-US
Abstract
Tech companies openly admit we are entering a new phase of AI-powered surveillance. One billionaire tech founder claims AI will be “constantly watching and recording” every action through ubiquitous body and doorbell cams. The AI race has only accelerated industry’s lust for our data — because captains of industry believe they need more and more data about us to train their AI models. And the longer we allow the unfettered collection of our personal information, the less we will be able to do about it, and the more likely we will become acclimated and resigned to the false idea that we don’t want or deserve digital privacy or freedom.
Recommended Citation
Woodrow Hartzog & Neil Richards,
Big Tech is Hungry for Consumer Data. Mass. Needs Privacy Legislation Now
,
Cognoscenti
(2026).
Available at:
https://scholarship.law.bu.edu/shorter_works/303
Publisher URL
https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2026/03/04/big-tech-data-ai-consumer-privacy-law-woodrow-hartzog-neil-richards
