Take back your data before it's spun out!

Your data may be yours, but Google and Meta control it. They - not you - own the profile they create of you from your personal information. If they should be broken up or sold, that profile may go to the new owner with no inherent restrictions on what can be done with it. 

It’s bad enough that these two giants are the main reasons our phones appear to be listening to us, but now there is also the uncertainty of what will happen to our personal information should these two companies be broken apart by antitrust suits. 

Illegal monopolies lead to break up for Google, possibly Meta

Over the past two years, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has successfully proven in court that Google illegally maintained a monopoly over the search and advertising industries. Most recently, a judge ruled that Google violated antitrust laws and ordered major changes — including breaking up parts of its ad business and ending the deals that made Google the default search engine on most devices.

Meta’s day of reckoning appears to have come as well. Evidence that Meta’s dominance hurts both competition and consumers convinced a judge to allow Meta’s antitrust case to move forward. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is now asking the court to force Meta to sell off Instagram and WhatsApp. A full trial is expected later this year.

In the Wild Wild West of data mining, both companies are galloping towards breakup. Given how much each company knows about us, this could potentially have huge implications for our personal information.

But wait, it’s our data, right? Nope

Legally? You generate the data, but Google and Meta own and control the profile they’ve built about you. 

When you use Google or Meta’s services, you agree to allow them to collect your data, analyze it, and build a detailed profile about you including your habits, location, relationships and even mood, and share it internally or with third party advertisers.

How much do they have on us? Enough to predict our behavior

Google scoops up data across dozens of services — Search, Docs, YouTube, Gmail, Android, Maps, Chrome, Ads, and more — to build the most detailed consumer profiles in the world. What you search, what you buy, where you go, who you talk to, what you watch, what you read, what you dream about buying next is all merged into one giant, dynamic, ever-learning profile. That’s what makes Google so profitable. They don't just sell ads. They sell precise predictions about your behavior.

Meanwhile, Meta combines all the information from your Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Threads and WhatsApp accounts into one huge, unified profile about you including who you are, who you know, what you like, where you go, what you buy, what you watch and - most creepily - what you might do next. Like Google, Meta uses technical tricks (shared device IDs, phone numbers, cookies, location data) to connect your behavior across platforms. You are one deeply detailed, highly valuable digital identity.

Yikes 🙀🤯

So what happens to our profiles if Google or Meta are split up? 

It’s a great question - and one with many possible scenarios. Most likely, the data goes with the pieces but how would that work? It’s particularly tricky with Meta given the merged data. It is even possible to untangle. Who owns the cross-app profiles? Would Facebook keep it? Would it be copied to Instagram and WhatsApp? 

Will users be given new rights and choices about their data? Wouldn’t that be nice! 

Without new laws, the companies could be separated but data still linked, Big Tech could continue surveillance using "partnerships" and "affiliate networks,” and courts could be limited in forcing real data deletion or user rights.

Even if Google lost its dominance in ads or search tomorrow, it would still be insanely powerful because it owns the largest behavioral database in human history. Breaking up the company without breaking up the data is like picking a dandelion but leaving the roots to regrow. 

It’s time for some serious risk assessment folks. 

Do you want your personal information to remain with these companies? Taking control of your digital footprint now is the most powerful move you can make.

While it is possible to ditch google tracking without losing convenience and enjoy your Insta and protect your data, too, it takes concrete steps to do so. TopsyTurvy: Meta is a great way to lockdown. 

HOWEVER: 

IF you can live without your free Google account, IF you can ditch your Insta habit, IF you can forego your Facebook reels, now is a REALLY good time to delete your Google and your Meta accounts. That’s the only way to eliminate your profile and guard your personal information no matter what happens in the future. 

Click HERE to become a member today! 

Down the Rabbit Hole

Curious? Check out my references

Department of Justice Prevails In Landmark Antitrust Case Against Google, Press Release: U.S. Department of Justice, April 17, 2025

Google’s online ad business found to be an illegal monopoly by federal judge, by Austin Williams: Fox 29 Philadelphia, April 17, 2025. 

Google broke the law. It’s Tim to break up the company by Courtney C Radish: The Guardian, April 24, 2025

FTC vs Meta Platforms, Federal Trade Commission, last updated April 15, 2025

Disclaimer: The above is solely intended for informational purposes and in no way constitutes legal advice or specific recommendations.