Is it possible to completely erase your internet history?

It's a common joke: "If I die, delete my browser history." Everyone understands it because, no matter how innocent your online activity seems, we all have those bizarre Google searches that might look strange out of context. And yes, we've all found ourselves creeping on someone's Facebook page a little too often. Despite the rapid progress of the internet, our understanding of internet privacy still lags behind.

That’s why the team at Stuff They Don’t Want You To Know teamed up with Will Pearson and Mango Hattikudur of Part-Time Genius for a special two-part podcast series on online privacy. First, Matt Frederick, Ben Bowlin, and Noel Brown dive into the pressing question: Can you truly erase your internet history? The answer may surprise you.

Since the late 1990s, the internet has become a fundamental part of everyday life for billions around the globe. Nearly 4 billion people are online today, which is more than 50 percent of the world's population, a huge leap from just 7 percent in 2000. Internet access is shifting from a luxury to a necessity, as much of modern life revolves around the ability to be online.

With the rise of internet usage worldwide, gathering user data has turned into a massive industry. Search engines like Google and social media platforms like Facebook hold vast amounts of personal data about their users, which is extremely valuable for advertising and marketing. But it’s also sought after by governments and hackers. As targeted ads grow, more people are becoming aware of how much information they're freely sharing online. However, deleting your social media account may not be the ultimate solution you think it is.

The challenge with removing data is that it's never entirely erased from the internet. Thanks to the terms and conditions we all agree to without reading — yet still accept — retracting shared information is nearly impossible. While you and other users may not see the deleted data, it’s still stored somewhere. In some cases, that content might not even be yours anymore.

For instance, Facebook requires you to specifically request the permanent deletion of your account, and Google can retain your data indefinitely, using it however they choose. YouTube might remove a video, but the file still lives on their servers. Android devices can eavesdrop on conversations and record audio without first asking for your consent. And in the United States, at least, this is legal: In March 2017, Congress voted to allow companies to gather and sell browsing data. (Not the case in Europe.)

But it’s not just companies wanting to sell products who are interested in this data; the National Security Agency (NSA) also profits from it. Matt, Ben, and Noel have discussed the NSA in detail on this previous podcast, but what matters now is that the government seeks information on who is visiting which sites and why. Under the banner of 'national security,' it has used methods like backdoors to unlock iPhones to locate suspected terrorists and tried to identify users of specific websites that assisted those protesting the Trump inauguration. Ultimately, the question of who will win—citizens or Homeland Security—will be determined by future legal battles.