“There’s an industry of ad targeting that tries to connect people’s online and offline activities,” Mr. Narayanan said. “People may not want all of their interests and activities and purchases to be tied together in one uber-profile that connects every dot, but that’s exactly what’s happening. These leaks are one clue to the puzzle of how companies are able to create that all-encompassing profile.”

Source: New York Times April 29, 2020 16:09 UTC