Data Privacy

Discussions and alternatives

Pretty vague as to what folks mean when we talk about "data"

• Personal information (identity)
• Behavioral information (activity)
• Preferences/propensities (?) (patterns)

These flow (roughly) in order or fluidity and are likely circular - preferences are influenced by repeated behavior which can then shape identity

Data Today

Why does it matter?

"If I don't have anything to hide, why should I care?"

• Data as a means to power
  • The ability to predict and influence what you see, purchase, consume, etc. (online and irl)
• Data is essential in nearly every industry (like ours!)
  • It behooves companies to acquire it as an advantage (marketing)
  • and governments to maintain power and control (with both +/- outcomes)
• Questions of privacy and freedom - what are our basic human rights? Is there a right to be forgotten digitally?

Thoughts?

Experiences trying out alternatives, privacy scares, other?

There has been a ton of press about this recently:

• A great collection of NYT articles on privacy
• Cell phone tracking
• COVID-19 & digital tracking apps
• Book: Surveillance Capitalism
• Documentary: Digital platforms in China
• Mobile surveillance by governments

Press and Discussion

As we all know, most digital & social spaces are occupied by "big tech" (Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Huawei, Samsung)

Severely limits the digital solutions available to consumers and prevents the introduction of new platforms.

The digital Landscape

Monopolies

Alternatives provide an escape from dense ecosystems (Google, Apple, Microsoft)

• Innovation
• Decentralized
• Open-source
• Privacy friendly

But have always have some barrier to entry - support, price, total usage

Alternatives!

Doesn't read and sell the content of your emails

Privacy, tracking, and marketing block lists by default

No tracking on clicked links or auctions of search results to agencies

Encrypted messages and calls - no data collection

Free, encrypted video chat free from censorship

Enclosed (registered) services are often the most clear way a company can access your data

Browsing is a major vector for security & tracking

• uBlock Origin
  • lightweight ad & tracking blocker
• Terms of Service; Didn't Read
  • quickly get the jest of a site's terms of service

Browsing