Privacy Post

  

In today's digital era, our right to privacy stands at the forefront of our digital citizenship. As we traverse the vast landscape of the internet, our personal data is constantly being collected, stored, and utilized by countless of apps and services. Yet, how often do we pause to consider the implications of this exchange? Anyone that reviews the assigned videos for this assignment should feel more cautious than ever before about how we move forward with our technological presence moving forward.

 

 

Professor Smith's instructions on this assignment said to "freak out" and it certainly left an impact, and I must admit, I'm feeling a bit shaken. Upon watching the first TED Talk video, Juan Enriquez's use of the phrase "online tattoo" throughout the video caught my attention. The phrase resonated deeply with me because it holds a profound truth – everything we post online becomes a permanent mark, simlar to a tattoo, regardless of our attempts to delete or modify it. Enriquez highlighted how seemingly sneaky platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and LinkedIn ultimately leave an indelible electronic imprint on our lives.

Another fascinating aspect I discovered was the revelation about "Face.com" and its very interesting system. The technology utilizes images captured and links them with Face ID recognition, seamlessly connecting them with your social media profiles. What caught me as intriguing was how, once connected to your social media, it can discern your clothing preferences and subsequently monetize this data by selling it to retailers. This integration of facial recognition and social media algorithms showcases the depth of insight that technology can attain into our personal lives, blurring the lines between online presence and consumer behavior.

 

 

There are some many issues that affect me, my friends, and my family in numerous ways. For instance, the constant tracking of our online activities and the collection of personal data lead to targeted advertising and selling of data. Furthermore, the potential misuse of facial recognition technology, as highlighted by the example of Face.com, from the TED TALK raises concerns about privacy violations and surveillance. To address these issues, we the people need to call on our local, state, and federal officials to pass common-sense privacy laws. The laws that are in effect today just don’t do enough. But I believe that we can do more by raising our voices and advocating for stronger laws to be enforced. Additionally, we can do better too. Firstly, we need to be more mindful of the information we share online and limit our exposure on social media platforms. It's also essential to regularly review privacy settings and permissions on our devices and apps to control the flow of our personal data. We also need to stay up to date and informed of what's going on. Staying informed about emerging threats and advocating for stronger privacy laws can empower us to assert our rights and demand greater transparency.