We trust big companies with our purchases, our searches, and sometimes even our secrets. But what many people don’t realize is that some of these companies that sell your data are also the ones we turn to most. From search engines to mobile apps, these brands collect your personal information and quietly sell it to third-party advertisers, brokers, and data analytics firms. Often buried in fine print or “terms of service,” this practice is legal, but unsettling. Here are seven companies that many Americans trust that are making money from your data, whether you know it or not.
1. Google: The King of Data Monetization
Google offers dozens of free tools—Search, Gmail, Maps, Chrome—and each one gathers detailed data about your habits. While Google claims it doesn’t “sell” personal data directly, it does use that data to target you with extremely specific ads through its advertising platform. This makes Google one of the most powerful players in the data economy, earning billions annually from ad targeting. Even your search history, location data, and voice assistant activity can be stored and leveraged. You can adjust some privacy settings, but unless you opt out entirely, Google still profits from your information.
2. Facebook (Meta): A Social Network Built on Surveillance
Meta—parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp—has faced multiple scandals over how it handles user data. Despite frequent promises to improve transparency, the company collects massive amounts of personal information from your posts, likes, messages, and even off-platform behavior. This data is then sold to advertisers, used to shape content recommendations, or shared with data brokers. The Cambridge Analytica incident revealed just how far-reaching Facebook’s data misuse can be. Even if your profile is private, your information is far from secure.
3. Amazon: More Than Just Your Shopping Cart
When you browse, buy, or even just search on Amazon, the platform is learning about you. Amazon collects data not only from your purchase history but also from Alexa voice commands, Prime Video viewing habits, and Ring doorbell recordings. This data is used to fuel targeted advertising and may be shared with third parties, including law enforcement. While Amazon promotes its convenience and efficiency, that personalization often comes at the cost of your privacy. It’s one of the companies that sell your data in ways most users never fully realize.
4. TikTok: Entertainment With a Side of Data Harvesting
TikTok’s popularity has exploded, especially among younger users, but it comes with significant privacy concerns. The app tracks everything from what videos you watch to how long you watch them, your keystrokes, and even your device’s hardware data. While the company claims U.S. user data is stored securely, reports have shown that information may still be accessible by foreign entities. Its massive data collection efforts are why several governments have banned or restricted its use on official devices. TikTok may seem fun and harmless, but it’s gathering far more information than most people suspect.
5. Verizon: Your Mobile Carrier Knows More Than You Think
Your phone company is one of the most powerful data collectors you interact with daily, and Verizon is no exception. Verizon tracks your location, app usage, web browsing history, and more, which it can use to create advertising profiles. While the company offers a “Verizon Custom Experience” that personalizes ads, opting into it allows even deeper tracking of your habits. They’ve also been fined in the past for failing to properly disclose data-sharing practices. Unless you actively opt out, your mobile activity is likely part of Verizon’s data sale strategy.
6. Ancestry and DNA Testing Sites: Your Genetic Code Is a Goldmine
Services like Ancestry.com and 23andMe offer fascinating insights into your family history and health, but they’re also collecting one of your most personal assets: your DNA. These companies can—and have—partnered with pharmaceutical companies, law enforcement, and third-party researchers, sharing anonymized or partially anonymized genetic data. While they say users can opt out of sharing, most people don’t realize how their raw data might be repurposed. Once your DNA is in the system, it’s hard to truly erase it. These are companies that sell your data at the genetic level.
7. Credit Bureaus: Selling What You Never Gave Them Directly
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion may not be household names in your daily life, but they know everything about your financial habits. These credit bureaus collect your data from lenders, banks, and public records, and they sell that data to marketers, insurers, and even debt collectors. They build profiles that include your borrowing history, payment habits, and credit scores. You can’t completely opt out of being tracked, and their data practices are often opaque. Despite major data breaches, these agencies continue to profit from your personal financial profile.
The Privacy Price We’re Still Paying
It’s easy to assume the apps and services you use daily are simply helpful or free, but the real cost is your personal information. These companies that sell your data often operate in plain sight, relying on the average person’s lack of time (or patience) to read privacy policies and opt-out clauses. While some offer tools to limit tracking, it takes effort to protect your data in a world built around monetizing it. Staying aware is your first defense, because what you don’t know is being used against you.
Have you ever discovered a company misusing your data?
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