Are we digitally private?
I think digital privacy is important, and maybe especially important because of the fact that our digital lives can be put on display for more people to see, for example. Decades ago, people probably weren’t too worried about digital privacy and protecting it as there weren’t many opportunities for keeping our digital life private, or even having a digital life. Also, in the case of how important digital privacy is, companies and corporations are fighting for our data to further advance their agendas and revenue, and/or other things that can be considered a benefit to us as online users. “As personal data has monetary and strategic value to others, it is a challenge to ensure that it is only collected and used appropriately.” (Policy Brief: Privacy) A large example I can think of where there were arguments about private user’s data and what is being done with it is in regard to Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg. The article states, “Mark Zuckerberg leveraged Facebook user data to fight rivals and help friends, leaked documents show”. It continues to explain that “Facebook’s leaders seriously discussed selling access to user data — and privacy was an afterthought. This could be considered worrisome if they actually have the ability to do this, or if they are able to do this without interfering with the law, and instead riding around in the grey area.
Based on varying opinions shared in the Pew Research Center report about algorithmic influence, I think it’s hard to tell what the overall effect of algorithms will be in the future. We hear both things, that these algorithmic advancements in technology could mean the “end” for us in regard to less human jobs and their ability to always advance at a rapid pace. But I feel that we also hear about how algorithms can contribute to the modernization of the world; things will get done faster and more accurate. We might be able to find solutions to things faster with algorithms. At what point do they become more powerful than a human being though? If we’re already at that point, which I feel we might be, will there become a time when we’re taken out of the equation? At the end of the Pew Research Article, Mike Liebhold says, “the story will keep shifting” (Code-Dependent: Pros and Cons of the Algorithm Age). I agree with this in the aspect that everything and everyone are always adapting. People may be freaking out about the influence of algorithms and some are excited for what is to come. I think the truth is that we don’t know what it will be like in 10 years, so it makes it even more complicated to get all “wrapped” up in it.
Something I learned this week that that I thought was surprising even though I shouldn’t have, as I am a victim of this, is reading Terms of Services on websites BEFORE clicking “Agree”. I will admit to doing this most of the time, unless I feel this “terms of service” is more important, maybe if I’m actually buying from that site, for example. The article, Do You Read Terms Of Service Contracts? Not many Do, Research Shows is informative on what we haven’t been doing online, but what we should be doing online in regard to reading the contracts that we all click “Agree” on. Most of the time, we don’t even know what we’re agreeing to! “During an experiment, people consented to sharing their private information with the NSA, and to surrendering their first-born as payment for access to a fictitious social networking site” (Do You Read Terms Of Service Contracts? Not Many Do, Research Shows). Also, I never really thought about how deep it can go in regard to our personal privacy and information, even outside of an online setting. An example that was brought up in the same article states, “maybe your grocery store is selling information about your food purchases to your insurance company, which then uses it to make judgements about your health risk.” (Do You Read Terms Of Service Contracts? Not Many Do, Research Shows). I never thought about how this can be happening at all levels and without us even knowing it. It’s just crazy to see all the possibilities available with user data in every single way, it seems. Also, an example I found that relates to this week’s topics in some way is in the first paragraph in regard to Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook and what he’s been up to with all of our data.