We’ve already talked about who owns your data, and data privacy. That dealt a lot with the data that you allow to be collected, even if it’s in a forced format since you have to have a cell phone for work/school.
Now we want to look at the amount of data that is collected while you are out and about. This data is often used for “security” reasons, which can seem like a legitimate use. However, how much privacy do you have to give up to live in a more secure world? Does giving up your data rights it make you, and it, more secure?
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
Benjamin Franklin
When “big brother” or the government does it, it might seem like an Orwellian society. However, what about when private companies do it? Does that make it better? Or worse?
Ring Doorbell Cameras
A great example is the Ring Doorbell Cameras. I was recently visiting a relative and took a walk, as it’s a healthy form of exercise. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=walking+for+health+benefits At least so says many different health journals and articles written about the topic.
However, I noticed that as I walked, on the sidewalk mind you, many houses were announcing that I was being recorded. Why? I wasn’t on private property. I was in a freely accessible space.
Now if you look on YouTube or their commercials, they will tout how they are used to chase off burglars, see when people fall so you can call 911, etc. However, they are also used as a spying tool, and can be easily comprised. Not only that, surveillance tools are shown to not really work at preventing crime. Add to that, the fact that they can be easily hacked to scare children, look at your data without your consent, etc.
Additionally, Amazon (the owner of Ring) has admitted to the fact that they have shared video recordings with police, without a warrant and without permission from the ring owner. — feel free to discuss the ethics of that.
All of this leads to the question, do what you get out of it, make it worthwhile? Does this solve a real problem? And if so, does it do it in the best way possible? How do you feel about violating other people’s privacy as they are going about their normal lives?
https://mashable.com/article/do-not-get-a-ring-camera-why
https://www.makeuseof.com/why-you-should-not-get-ring-video-doorbell/
Public Security Cameras
The next question is the public cameras, which seem to be popping up more and more. Some will argue, and legally they are correct, that in a public area, you do not have the assumption of privacy and therefore you should be able to be recorded by anyone, anytime. In fact, that is the idea that Ring Camera’s utilize to get around the legal issue of them recording someone.
However, you are recording individuals; they have a set of rights, and they have a set of desires. So while you may not be infringing upon their rights, you very well may be infringing on their desires who don’t want to be recorded 100% of the time. Despite this, there are those who wish to extend the use of public cameras finding benefits everywhere they look. https://www.bossecurity.com/2022/12/21/benefits-of-surveillance-cameras-in-public-places/
But what if those cameras aren’t looking for major crimes, or trying to prevent major crimes? Rather, they are used to find and even fine the population minor crimes. In China, it is estimated that there are 200 million (200,000,000) cameras being used for surveillance of their citizens. Tied together with facial recognition, it allows for unparalleled control of their population, including the ability to fine their citizens for minor crimes like jay walking.
The scope of the surveillance allows them to track their citizens and see where they’ve been going. Want to protest against the government, they know about it, and can choose to penalize you in ways they see fit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_surveillance_in_China
https://time.com/5735411/china-surveillance-privacy-issues/
License Plate Readers
In the “old days” a cop might stop at a traffic light and see a license plate. They may enter it into a computer to look up to see if it is current, and if the owner of the car had any outstanding warrants. Due to the length of a traffic light, they might only be able to track a single license plate or a couple at most. However, now with computer vision and cheap digital cameras, police officers are getting plate readers which can and will read nearly every car they pass, being able to check for more information at the same time.
While you might not think this affects you since you don’t have any warrants out, can it be misused to do everything from track movements without a warrant, or start to build profiles on citizens? How do you make sure this is evenly represented so that it doesn’t target minority communities? How long does the organization store data? What else is done with that data?
https://www.cnet.com/home/security/police-will-get-ai-powered-license-plate-readers-but-ethical-concerns-remain/
These are the types of concerns that can be raised. Even if it does help, the question is always at what cost. Without knowing how long the data is retained, this has far reaching concerns as you may get tracked doing something that is considered not only legal but a desired action now, but may have a lower desirability in the future.
Should You Be Allowed to Be Anonymous Online?
If anonymity isn’t allowed, then it makes it easier to track bad guys. They’d either not post things online (you’d think) or they’d not do them because it makes it easier to get caught. https://www.ranker.com/list/criminals-who-bragged/jf-sargent and https://www.asanet.org/footnotes-article/social-media-criminal-evidence-new-possibilities-problems/ and https://fox17.com/news/local/psychologists-why-criminals-post-crimes-on-social-media-why-its-not-likely-to-stop
When I was talking about this with someone I knew, their comment was, I don’t do anything wrong, so why should I care? Well, remember, that not everyone has the same rules and laws as you. While it’s difficult, sometimes people will try to prosecute you for laws broken outside of their jurisdiction. What do you think about people who might be considered “freedom fighters”? To some, they’re rebels trying to take back their country. To others, they are terrorist.
Consider the recent case from Saudi Arabia: They say it is due to terrorism. Others may disagree. https://www.npr.org/2023/08/31/1196776390/saudi-arabia-man-death-sentence-tweets
As people in America, you would think that wouldn’t happen here, however, our own political rhetoric has been ratcheted up on both sides as shown here: https://hageman.house.gov/media/in-the-news/labeling-republicans-christian-conservative-groups-terrorists-appalling-hageman
What if a belief you had for years, which was considered mainstream, suddenly falls out of favor? This might be something like going to a political rally, church, or even work. https://www.aclu.org/cases/cell-phone-location-tracking-public-records-request and https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-03-16/pandemic-changed-movements-california-cell-phone-data and https://nypost.com/2022/05/04/cdc-bought-cell-phone-data-to-track-lockdowns-vaccination-docs/
Is Privacy an Illusion?
If you’ve never seen Smarter Everyday, I think you should check him out. But, here is an idea on is Privacy an Illusion, and if so is Privacy be something worth fighting for?
Data Privacy in a Public World was originally found on Access 2 Learn
