According to TechRadar, Surfshark’s latest research reveals that US shopping apps are actually worse data harvesters than their often-criticized Chinese competitors. Amazon takes the crown as the most data-hungry app, collecting 25 unique types of user data across categories examined. Walmart and Costco follow closely with 23 data types each, while Whatnot collects 20. In contrast, China’s Alibaba collects “only” 19 types of data, with Temu gathering 17. The study analyzed 35 different data types used for purposes like product personalization and third-party advertising. Most concerningly, Amazon and Walmart collect sensitive information including political opinions, ethnic origin, and biometric data.
The uncomfortable truth about your shopping apps
Here’s the thing that should make every smartphone user pause: we’ve been conditioned to worry about Chinese apps being privacy nightmares, but it turns out our homegrown American shopping giants are even more aggressive. Amazon collecting 25 different data points? That’s basically building a digital clone of you. And they’re not alone – Walmart and Costco are right there with them at 23 data types each.
What really unsettles me is the sensitive data collection. Political opinions? Biometric data? Voice recordings? That’s moving way beyond “we need this to recommend products.” When an app knows your political leanings and can identify you by your voice or face, we’ve crossed into territory that feels more like surveillance than shopping convenience.
How they’re building your digital profile
It’s not just about what you voluntarily share either. Luis Costa from Surfshark explains that apps can piece together sensitive information by analyzing your behavior – your searches, purchases, location patterns. They’re essentially playing detective with your digital breadcrumbs. Combine enough of those breadcrumbs, and suddenly they’re making educated guesses about your health status or political views.
Think about that for a second. Your late-night searches for certain medications combined with your location data visiting specific clinics could reveal health conditions you never explicitly shared. That’s incredibly powerful – and dangerous – information in the wrong hands.
Why this actually matters beyond theory
This isn’t just abstract privacy concerns. Costa points out that leaked health data “can be used by insurance companies and healthcare providers” since health information rarely changes. Imagine your insurance rates going up because an app leaked data suggesting you might have a chronic condition. Or political opinions being exposed in ways that damage professional relationships.
The Black Friday bargain mentality makes this particularly timely. We’re so focused on saving money that we’re not considering what we’re trading away. That “amazing deal” might cost you more in privacy than you’ll ever save in dollars.
Fighting back against data hunger
So what can you actually do? The simplest solution is also the most effective: don’t download the shopping apps. Use browser versions instead – they’re inherently more limited in what data they can access. If you must use apps, actually read those privacy policies (I know, nobody does, but maybe we should start).
Two-factor authentication is another no-brainer. And if you’re serious about taking control, security tools like VPNs can help. Surfshark is already running Black Friday deals on their security suite, which feels appropriately timed given these findings.
Ultimately, we need to recognize that “free” apps and convenient shopping experiences aren’t actually free. We’re paying with our personal data, and the price keeps going up.
