Device Privacy Should Be Your Choice
The Reader’s Edge | Charlie Samways | June 14, 2026 |
Over the years, my relationship with technology has evolved.
The one thing that hasn’t changed is my belief that privacy matters.
Over the last few months, I have seen a growing change that brought my device privacy into clear view.
Think of a moment you have landed on a website for the first time. What initially started as requests to accept or block cookies and data being captured has adapted.
Now, several websites give you a different choice. If you want to read this article, either accept the data capture or pay us for the pleasure of using our site.
This is not so much about the request for payment. It is the way this change highlighted the urgency of companies to get you to accept data capturing.
On the back of this, I started to consider the way that Amazon has grown so adept at recommending books to me. I buy all my Kindle books through their ecosystem, so it’s not surprising.
But I needed to know: were Amazon tracking me in ways I wasn’t considering?
The simple answer was yes, they were. Kindles have an optional privacy setting, which is on by default. Leaving this on allows Amazon to use your device data for product improvement and marketing purposes.
Not only can Amazon see what books I’m buying, but they also know my reading and device habits. This second part was the shock for me.
For Kindle users, the good news is that you can turn this privacy setting off to stop sharing your device data (see this week's video 😊). But it’s just one part of a wider privacy consideration we should all be having.
The Default Trap
A key discipline around using any technology intentionally is to be deliberate.
If we take our phones as an example, intentional use would be making a phone call or sending a message to friends and family. These actions become unintentional when you find that you’ve lost time as a result of scrolling on social media or moving between apps without a clear purpose.
This same principle of deliberate action can be applied to our decision-making around device privacy.
By now, big companies will hold data on you and your habits. The push to set up accounts, or make users sign up to loyalty cards, ensures that companies can use accurate marketing to help you spend more with them.
For most, the option of unplugging and living in a cabin off-grid isn’t practical.
Instead, the question is how much you’re comfortable with, and whether you’ve actually chosen to allow data sharing, or just left it on by default.
Just as with the Kindles, most devices will have settings and features that enable you to reduce how much data is shared. For the most part, these are tucked away. This is because most companies won’t want you to turn them off.
Knowing this is part of the battle. Finding what you’re comfortable with sharing and actively changing your technology to reflect those views is the next step.
For some, leaving full data sharing on may come with benefits they don’t want to lose. For others, taking back a proportion of control will feel like a win.
This isn’t about sparking paranoia. It’s an encouragement to make active, deliberate decisions about the tools you use, rather than leaving everything on default.
This Week’s Question
When did you last actively check the privacy settings on a device you use every day? And what did you find?
Reply to me at hello@charliesamways.com. I read every one.
From The Channel This Week
This week’s video looks directly at how to stop data tracking on your Kindle.
Your Kindle Is Tracking You. Disable These Settings Now
Plus, don’t miss out on my Free Kindle Guide, available to download here
Wishing you all the best this week, and actively considering what data you’re happy to share.
Catch up next week,
Charlie Samways