In light of my topic for my paper, I found the Data Mining section of today's readings very thought provoking. I think it is very easy to forget how not private your online activity can be. The law review article in the book in from 1999, so I am not sure how up to date it is, but I can't imagine that there a very many standards for limiting the collection and utilization of personal data on the internet are. This is especially apparent with gmail, Facebook and countless other social networking cites that are able to target ads according to your internet activities. So many people think that, if they are home alone and on the internet, nobody can see them - but, this does not seem to be the case.
I think a lot of people would be surprised to learn just how much information about themselves is out in cyberspace. More people know about the dangers of having too much information on their twitter or Facebook, but it seems that that is only the beginning. The data that can be collected, simply from what kinds of searches you do, or what kinds of site you visit can't possibly portray an accurate picture of a person's personality, but some people may try to argue that. Privacy on the internet is a big concern, and it appears that it is only going to become worse.
There is actually a great documentary on CNBC about this and how Google collects information. Ironically, I used Google to get you the link that discusses the Google documentary!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cnbc.com/id/34039290/CNBC_PRESENTS_INSIDE_THE_MIND_OF_GOOGLE
This may be because I watch too much Law and Order SVU but I was wondering how this information could be used against you. Could your search history be used against you to prove your guilt or innocence? Say you're writing a book about serial killers and use the web to do a lot of research and then are charged for murder. Would this collection of data be used against you? I know they are always digging through computers on SVU but isn't that a 1st Amendment issue? I haven't taken evidence so maybe someone knows more then me. PS On the TV show its never the guy with the dirty search history he always ends up innocent. And also is this information public or private? Imagine if it could be made available to employers, how that would change the interview process? "Excuse me Miss Harris if we hire you will you be on icanhascheezburger.com 8 hours a day like you are now?" Scary to think about.
ReplyDeleteI recently "Googled" myself to see what is out there about me; while I didn't find my Facebook profile or contents of my email accounts I was shocked to find information about me on mylife.com. There was my name, age, my parents' names and ages. It scared me for some reason to the point that I didn't click on the page for fear of what else I might find. My parents are major Internet users like I am so that really scared me. I am perfectly fine with anything I put on Facebook being public information despite my privacy settings to the contrary and realize that if someone wanted to they could dig deep enough to find out what websites I frequent but I was not OK with seeing that information out there, basic as it may be. With Facebook, email and web browsing I feel as if I am somewhat in control with what information is out there about me. Randomly finding info about myself on a site that I have never even been to scares the living daylights out of me.
ReplyDeleteI have a book you might be interested in using for your paper. I'll bring it with me when I come back from break and get it to you.