What is the ethical "red line" for a PM when balancing privacy vs. personalization?

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Anonymous · Accepted Answer

As a Product Manager, I believe data is essential because user behavior and
analytics drive product decisions. However, I draw a clear line when tracking
extends beyond the boundaries of the product.

If we are collecting information about a user's activity outside the app, such
as location, cross-app behavior, or browsing activity, it should always be based
on explicit, informed consent. Users should clearly understand what is being
collected, why it's needed, and what value they receive in return.

I also strongly believe in data minimization. We should only collect the
information necessary to solve a customer problem rather than gathering data
simply because we can. Sensitive information such as financial data, health
information, or personally identifiable information should have much higher
protection standards and should never be used for unrelated product decisions.

Finally, users should always have the ability to opt out or change their privacy
preferences at any time. In the long run, user trust is a competitive advantage.
A product that respects privacy is more likely to retain users than one that
maximizes data collection at the expense of transparency.

What is the ethical "red line" for a PM when balancing privacy vs. personalization?

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