Understanding Privacy in the Digital Age

 

Understanding Privacy

Understanding privacy begins with understanding the reality of the technological era we are currently living in. Privacy is not as easily maintained as it was before the rise of digital records and social media. We live in an era of instant results and easily accessible information. We have all heard the warning, "Be careful what you put online because it'll come back to haunt you". As much as we have scoffed and rolled our eyes, there is truth in it. Everything we post, any information we have put out there is recorded somewhere in the digital ether. 

Source: Data Privacy Manager

Privacy in Browser Data

Let's consider one's browser history and information. Looking at Robin Linus' article What Every Browser Knows About You, I learned that not only does your browser know all about your location, what computer software and hardware is being used, and your connection information (i.e. your IP address), but, also, "all this data can be accessed by any website without asking for permission" (Linus, R. (n.d.). As someone interested in the world of true crime, I hear a lot about law enforcement agencies incriminating people based on their search history. It made sense to me that law enforcement would have the ability to look at a person of interest's browser data, but the reality is they can legally do this because all this information is simply out there for public view for those who know how to decipher it. For most of us, our browser history can sometimes be as personal as a diary: it shows your interests, your concerns, and your plans. Knowing that this could be potentially used against you, maybe not by law enforcement, but by anyone with an efficient knowledge of technology is concerning. 

Privacy in Social Media Data.                                                  Source: Mari Smith on Facebook 

Continuing with the theme above, Facebook, for example, is a social media platform notorious for its collection of individuals' personal data. Have you ever wondered how that one particular pair of shoes from that one particular shop magically shows up in the ads of your Facebook feed? Well, as reported in BuzzFeed News' You Can Finally See All of the Info Facebook Collected About You From Other Websites, it is reported that "Facebook tracks your browsing history via the "Login with Facebook" button, the "like" button, Facebook comments, and little bits of invisible code" (Nguyen, N., & Mac, R. 2019). These little bits of code, known as "Facebook pixel" is embedded throughout other sites. In 2019, Facebook introduced a new "Clear History" option that would allow users to disconnect their browsing history from their Facebook account. If this hadn't come out, though, would we, the users, ever know that Facebook was accessing everything we did across websites and other accounts? What other social media platforms are doing the exact same thing. Then there is the consideration; if we are consensually signing up for these social media platforms, if it their fault or our fault if most of us do not even care to read the fine print? Where is the line of ethics drawn if we are knowingly putting our own information, our own faces, birthdates, etc., out there? 

Tips to Protecting Your Online Data

                                                                                              Source: UofI Information Technology Services

While all this information regarding internet privacy concerns can be overwhelming and frightening, it is a reality of the everyday life of the twenty-first century. That does not mean that certain steps can not be taken to protect one's internet privacy. Written in 2019 for the "Geeks for Geeks" company, H. Arkiran wrote 10 Tips to Protect Your Online Data Privacy in 2019. The tips are as follows:

1. Always browse in anonymous mode
2. Change your default search engine with a privacy-focussed search engine
3. Use end-to-end encrypted messaging apps
4. Use a VPN to protect yourself from service providers
5. Enforce browser security with certain extensions
6. Don't use public storage for private information
7. Stay private on Wi-Fi networks
8. Use secure passwords
9. Evade tracking websites
10. Change your social media privacy settings

While this seems a little overwhelming, especially if you are someone like me who has limited knowledge of the background of technological data, it really is just taking the time and energy to do your own research and edit preference settings accordingly. 

Reflection on Privacy

In just stating my personal feelings, I have a healthy level of fear when it comes to certain individual data being leaked and known by the wrong people. I never want my social security number to be out there or even my phone number and home address. However, I have an Instagram account, I have a Facebook and a LinkedIn. My information is out there. When my name is searched in Google, these profiles come up, along with my grandfather's obituary and commencement information from both my college and high school. I have come to terms with the fact that parts of me are out there, and as long as the information out there does not put me in danger or distress, I do not have the energy to worry about it.

Citations

Arkiran, H. (2019, October 15). 10 tips to protect your online data privacy in 2019. GeeksforGeeks. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/10-tips-to-protect-your-online-data-privacy-in-2019/

Linus, R. (n.d.). What your browser knows about you. Webkay. https://webkay.robinlinus.com/

Nguyen, N., & Mac, R. (2019, August 20). You can finally see all of the info Facebook collected about you from other websites. BuzzFeed News. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/nicolenguyen/off-facebook-activity-feature-clear-history?utm_source=like2buy.curalate.com&crl8_id=ecb7bb2c-2eef-40a6-9e09-85dd0fa6d286