Week 12: Privacy in the digital age: What are we trading for it?

“Americans’ views about data collection and security”

So many numbers…Not enough context to inspire a reader response. None of this is surprising.

“How the Intercept is balancing useful analytics with reader privacy”

Intercept sounds like a real ground-breaker in terms of responsible data collection. It seems like they’ve struck a balance between securing user privacy and still gleaning the information that would be helpful for them to run their service. I don’t think their model will catch on, though, because I’m sure most websites would rather have user data to sell to advertisers because it would mean more money for them, even at the cost of their user’s privacy. I think the government would have to step in to encourage more people to follow Intercept, but I bet the government would also prefer to have more personal information.

“Foiling electronic snoops in email”

I had never heard about this kind of thing before! I never understood why some emails didn’t automatically upload images or HTML styling and now I see a value in it. I’m tempted to delete every email that asks permission to load images now. I can definitely see how exhaustive it would be to try and completely avoid these trackers, and that’s seriously disappointing.

I don’t know a lot about Gmail, even though it’s my primary email service provider, but my understanding was that Gmail is actually not that secure. A had a friend in my undergrad who knew how to hack our Gmail-based school email addresses. Knowing what I do know since entering the EMAC program, I think that if one wants a truly tracker free email experience they need to think about who their email service provider is. Because I think it should be up to them to develop those safety features.

“Behind the European privacy ruling that’s confounding Silicon Valley”

I read this article after just this morning reading this CNN article (Brussels attack: How officials failed to join the dots) which is critical of Europe’s security shortcomings. So the decisions of this case are not surprising. I think when it becomes a question of whether a person’s right to privacy outweighs public safety (when you’re thinking about terrorism), it gets really tricky to decide ethically what is more important.

Because on principle, I think most people would say it’s not right for social media companies to data mine users. Especially when the only way unsuspecting users might learn of this privacy invasion is if they read the Terms & Conditions, which nobody does!

I do wonder though if an increased terroristic activity in Europe will invite further discussion on the privacy laws that would in the absence of the threat of terrorism might be more unquestionably admired.

“Sharing data, but not happily”

I definitely identify with that feeling of resignation. Resignation, I think, is the theme of all these readings.

“The death of privacy”

I don’t have a lot of thoughts on the Mosley example (beyond confusion at this human) used at the beginning of this article, other than it reminds me of the Hulk Hogan vs. Gawker decision made very recently that is basically about the same issue. I think it is slightly more groundbreaking case study, particularly here in the US.

I really enjoyed the insights this article provides. It’s even inspired what I’d like to explore in more depth in my paper/presentation for this unit (the preferred double and the panopticon)! I like how this article appeals not just to the anger that should accompany the privacy invasion by Silicon Valley companies but for a poetic loss of self.

I’m not sure it completely lands for me, though. I don’t personally agree that our “shelter for imaginative freedom, curiosity and self-reflection” is compromised in our current state. I think more people care about the potential harm to their public image should information fall into the wrong hands. Think about all those people who never thought anyone would find out they were on Ashley Madison before the hack (Hackers Finally Post Stolen Ashley Madison Data).