Digital Privacy & Data Tracking: Are We Being Watched?
Internet privacy is a complex issue. First, the concept of privacy truly depends on one’s background: What is discerned as a high risk privacy disclosure for one person might not be perceived as a risk for another individual. Second, even with privacy controls, privacy is not guaranteed. This idea was especially present in the 2018 Cambridge Analytica data scandal (i.e. when individuals took a personality quiz on Facebook that exploited their personal information to the company). So, how protected are we really?
This is a tough question to answer. On one end, users feel like their information is protected through private profiles, complicated passwords, etc. On the other end, users’ data is constantly being monitored and used for algorithms and ad tracking. Internet Society’s policy brief notes that “Personal data has become a profitable commodity” (Internet Society, 2015). User data is constantly being collected. This is because search engines and other tools can identify faces, voices, movements, searches, and images (Internet Society 2015). Therefore, it seems than any form of data privacy is beneficial/important. For the most part, choosing private profiles and opting out of cookies are ways to actually maintain data privacy. There is still uncertainty surrounding user data, so it’s just better to be cautious.
Now, I do find that there is benefit to the internet’s memory (aka algorithms). For instance, I strongly take advantage of the “Remember Me” login tool that pops up whenever I enter into a platform. I have so many different accounts for different purposes, so this tool helps to eliminate the horror of forgetting my username or password. Quite honestly, I’m not really sure what the internet would even look like or how it would be so equipped with knowledge if algorithms didn’t exist.
The Pew Research Center’s algorithmic influence article addresses the fact that everything that we do online is based on algorithms (Rainie & Anderson, 2017). From online dating to working on a spreadsheet, each click is documented and remembered for future use. And, the question about whether or not algorithms are a pro or con for society is simply this: They have both positive and negative impacts.
Algorithms bring connectivity, convenience, and an abundance of knowledge that may help us form decisions (Rainie & Anderson, 2017). Nonetheless, it can be argued that they also may be manipulative and uncanny. It seems that “Our algorithms are now redefining what we think, how we think and what we know” (Rainie & Anderson, 2017). That’s why digital literacy is so important. It is crucial that while we take advantage of an algorithm’s convenience, we do not lose our own judgement. Algorithms are trying to mimic human thought, but they are not human thought. They are showing us what we may prefer based on our previous online behaviors, still there is more to us than just what technology knows…that is, if individuals don’t fall into the trap of believing that a robot/technology knows more about the real world than other humans or oneself. It is a complicated matter.
All About Deepfakes
I chose to dive into the topic of deepfakes as they are still a newer concept in our society. Deepfakes are a form of artificial intelligence where an existing image/video is replaced with a similar one, producing false content. The problem is that they can make individuals believe something that isn’t real. And, anyone can create deepfakes through easily downloadable computer software. For example, there have been a number of scandals where celebrities’ faces are being put on the bodies of porn stars. Additionally, there has been a concern about deepfakes controlling politics. Take a look at the video below:
The video shows how audio has been taken from one event and placed onto another. For the most part, it looks quite real. Deepfakes aren’t illegal, yet there are surely some ethical questions that come into play. It will be interesting to see how advanced they become in the future and what our leaders will have to do to combat this rising issue.
Sources: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/14/what-is-deepfake-and-how-it-might-be-dangerous.html ; https://www.businessinsider.com/deepfakes-explained-the-rise-of-fake-realistic-videos-online-2019-6#in-january-2018-a-deepfake-creation-desktop-application-called-fakeapp-launched-bringing-deepfakes-to-the-masses-a-dedicated-subreddit-for-deepfakes-also-gained-popularity-3
