LIS 768 01: Privacy in the Digital Age

                                         Introduction

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    Hello, Readers! Have you ever thought how much we, as society, share with each online, maybe without even realizing how much information or personal data we share with only a few clicks of a button? In our modern digital era, TVs, radios, computers, tablets and phones are nearly everywhere in our society. In this day and age, we utilize technology in various angles of everyday life, whether it is using electronic devices and internet connection for education, entertainment, business, household chores, banking, grocery shopping or communicating with loved ones online. Both electronics and the internet have become so integrated into modern society, that we often times use them without really consciously realizing it. Last week on this blog, I discussed personality quizzes and how we as internet users can use them to reflect upon ourselves, our interests and our preferences based on our answers to the questionaries. This has led me to think more deeply this week about the topic of online privacy in the present day, where it can seem that more and more each day, technology is so commonplace, so easily ingrained in our lives, that digital privacy can feel as though as though it the product of an already bygone era. How do we recognize when our modern devices are violating our privacy by taking our data when we use in a variety of ways nearly every minute of the day? How are we meant to protect our data and private lives from something that become so quickly over the past few decades in society as the modern internet and electronic devices? Although protecting our personal data and online privacy in an increasingly digitalized world may seem like a daunting task, the rise in internet usage and commonalty of electronic devices in various corners of life is the very reasons we need greater discussions on the importance of maintaining privacy in modern times.

                         Online Dangers and Ways to Stay Safe

    Over this past week, I reflected upon three different resources which discussed the ways in which our online data or personal information can be taken, sold and used in ways in which we wouldn’t suspect of being harmful or knowingly consented to its usage by third-parties, along with steps that can be taken by internet users to protect their data from serious issues such as fraud, identity thief and harassment. A notable issue with digital data collection by tech companies and breaches of costumer privacy is that it can take forms in seemingly harmless everyday online activities, games or trusted electronic devices that are kept in homes across society. One such example of how personal data information can be stolen is discussed within the first article I share by Lindsey Murray, a journalist from Good Housekeeping, the author discusses how personality quizzes from popular social media sites such as Facebook, despite appearing like innocent fun on the surface, can steal data from users and be a source of identity thief. The article discusses further how entering true, personal information can have negative consequences, such as the sharing of birthdays, locations or personal family photos make identifying a person much easier for third-parties such as targeted marketing or more dangerous individuals online. As Murray states within her article, “above all, it's important to remember that everything you post on social media is public, no matter how secure your settings are” (Murray, 2018).

    Another source of danger in user privacy and personal data being stolen without knowledge of consent can be in popular digital assistant electronics such as Amazon’s Alexa ai, a modern device commonly found in homes across the nation. Within my second chosen resource, an CNN Business article by Professor Kara Alaimo, in which she discusses that while Alexa devices are popular for their convivence and entertainment for consumers, she also highlights their potential as a data collecting tool for personalized marketing at best and manipulation of consumers at worst by the Amazon company. Within the article, the author discusses the implications of the reveal that Amazon has its employees listen-in to conversations from their costumers who own an Alexa from a random, small set of users; it is claimed that the company-approved eavesdropping is done for the purpose of improving the robot’s ai software, but Alaimo highlights the creepy ways that the information collected by Amazon from its costumer base, noting in her writing “While it can sometimes be helpful to get personalized product recommendations for items Amazon’s algorithm realizes might be useful to us, users might also be manipulated into buying products they otherwise wouldn’t have if the company pinpoints and tries to take advantage of their weaknesses.

    There’s also nothing to stop Amazon from selling our information to third parties — like political candidates — who could try to target and appeal to us” (Alaimo, 2019). It can be scary not knowing what sites or devices may sell and use your personal information, especially if they are trusted. What can be done for users to protect their information when collecting data seems to be a common practice across the internet? The third and final resource I want to share with you, Readers, is an article from the Geeks for Geeks educational organization, offering helpful tips on protecting your online data in the modern day and age. The article offers advice such as suggesting users utilize encrypted messaging apps, browse the internet in Firefox or Chrome’s Anonymous Modes, and offering guides to enforcing better and stronger security for internet browsers through extensions. The article hosts a number of tips, resources and links to improving online privacy and digital security for anyone unsure of what proper steps to take with their information’s protection.

                                               Conclusion

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    As someone working to become a public librarian, I want to be a professional who is able to not only provide visiting patrons with the resources, programming and services they need, but to also create a positive, welcoming environment within the library building itself, which includes ensuring that the patrons’ privacy is respected and that their personal data or information within the organization is not used or shared with outside third-parties without their clear consent. I want to be a librarian who creates a safe space for my patrons, and part of the responsivity in ensuring patron’s comfort and freedom to intellectual rights is by protecting the patrons’ right to personal data privacy, security and confidentiality while a guest of organization. Because of the numerous ways in which technology is so deeply integrated in our daily lives, it is easy to ignore how our personal data is used by tech companies, it could almost be viewed as a given fact that companies mine for our information to personalize and improve target marketing towards induvial consumers. How often have you talked about a product, a piece of media or a service with someone, and soon afterwards you see an ad for that same subject while surfing online? It can be a spooky déjà vu feeling, right? However, data mining and little or no privacy online can be a lot more serious and potentially more dangerous occurrence than seeing an ad for Shrek 5 on the internet five minutes after you were talking about going to see it with your friend. A breach of privacy and the sharing information to third-parties can long-term consequences for individual online, that’s why it is incredibly important to not only raise self-awareness of potential dangers when sharing our personal information on social media, but to research security protections and stay informed on methods of keeping valuable personal Information private. In our modern digital world where information is shared and spread like wildfire, it is important to strive for the right balance in trust and fun with responsibility and security.