Is it ethical for marketers to gather massive amounts of data about everything a consumer does and sell advertising using the information. What types of protections do you value as a consumer?

WeChat, an app in China, offers its users a “one-stop shop” for features. Users can chat, shop, form new social connections, order and pay for food, make payments, identify crowded locations, make investments, and make doctor’s appointments—among other things—all without leaving the app. As a result, WeChat collects large amounts of valuable data about its consumers and their habits that it monetizes by selling advertising. Companies in China are required to share this information with the government, which has a history of human rights violations. Technology companies in the United States aim to develop similar capabilities in order to keep people engaged and gather volumes of valuable data, which may be one reason Facebook moved to allow users of Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp messengers to communicate across platforms. While consumers value the convenience and personalized offers they gain by letting WeChat gather data, there are concerns about privacy intrusions and other entities that can access the data.