Running Naked through the Internet category archive
No Place To Hide 0
Farhad Manjoo points out that it can–is–happening here. A snippet:
(snip)
Indeed, because of a dearth of laws protecting our privacy — and almost no high-profile political discussion about the stakes at hand — Americans are sleepwalking into a future nearly as frightening as the one the Chinese are constructing. I choose the word “sleepwalking” deliberately, because when it comes to digital privacy, a lot of us prefer the comfortable bliss of ignorance. As a result, much of the surveillance engine operates underground — just beyond where many of us dare to look.
Speaking of sleepwalking, I was talking with someone this morning–in person, in fact–who dismissed our own corporate digital surveillance society by saying, “Everyone does it anyway.”
No Place To Hide 0
At the San Francisco Chronicle, Joseph W. Cotchett note the efforts of Big Data to weasel out from under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Here’s a snippet (emphasis added):
Face, we have admitted–nay, invited–these parasites into our most private lives and now, like electronic bed bugs, they have no intention of leaving.
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*A distinction without a distinction, methinks.
Phoning It In–Even When You Don’t Want To 0
I only turn on “Location Services” when I have a positive need, which is hardly ever, but, after reading Zandar’s comments at the end of his post, I explored my “smart” phone and found and changed some privacy settings I was previously unaware of.
Cookie Cutting 0
David describes the pressure being put on his podcast to allow his listeners’ and viewers’ data to be tracked.
No Place To Hide 0
The EFF has issued a report on how Big Data is all up in your business. Here’s a bit from the press release:
If you use the inner webs, you need to follow the link.
The Watchers 0
Zandar cautions against the spy on the shelf.
No Place To Hide 0
Listen to Harry Shearer’s interview with Shoshana Kuboff, author of the Age of Surveillance Capitalism.
Methinks ’twill cause you disquiet.
Big Data Has Its Bluetooth in You 2
The New York Times reports on how stores use bluetooth beacons to track your every move. A snippet (emphasis added):
So a hidden industry of third-party location-marketing firms has proliferated in response. These companies take their beacon tracking code and bundle it into a toolkit developers can use.
The makers of many popular apps, such as those for news or weather updates, insert these toolkits into their apps. They might be paid by the beacon companies or receive other benefits, like detailed reports on their users.
Facebook Frolics 0
Professor of Communications Joseph B. Walther explores why persons continue to use Facebook despite the recent spate of revelations about the craven venality of its algorithmic manipulative tactics and porous “security” protection. A snippet (emphasis added):
(snip)
The psychological tendency at work here is called “the third person effect,” the belief that media don’t fool me, and maybe don’t fool you, but all those other people are sitting ducks for media effects.
Ironically, this dynamic can encourage people to support restrictions on media consumption – by others. If someone uses, say, a social media site and feels immune to its negative influences, it triggers another psychological phenomenon called the “influence of presumed influence.” When that happens, a person worries that everyone else falls victim, and supports efforts to protect others, even if they think they themselves don’t need the protection.
I commend the piece to your attention.
A Vast Wastetime 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Mike Brooks argues that no one really cares about your “social” media posts, certainly not in proportion to the amount of time most “social” media users spend using “social” media. He offers several arguments.
Among other arguments, he suggest that others care about your posts to the same degree that you care about theirs:
Follow the link to see what you think of the rest, then be sure to use one of icons at the bottom of his article share it on soc–oh, never mind.
We Are the Trojans, and We Have Invited a Herd of Horses into Our Homes 0
Bloomberg reports on how Big Data is trying to steal all privacy. Here’s a bit:
In other words, after you connect a light fixture to Alexa, Amazon wants to know every time the light is turned on or off, regardless of whether you asked Alexa to toggle the switch. Televisions must report the channel they’re set to. Smart locks must keep the company apprised whether or not the front door bolt is engaged.
This is not good.
Weather Mapping 0
I second the advice that Farron gives at the end of the video: Turn off the “Location Services” in your phone or tablet unless you have a positive need for it. Also, when considering installing a new app, inspect the permissions it requests carefully. If they seem hinky, find an alternative.
Facebook Frolics 0
Naveed Saleh reports that enthusiasm for Facebook seems to be waning, citing surveys that show more and more persons are taking longer breaks from the Wells Fargo of social media and that a significant number of persons are removing the Facebook app from their smartphones.*
At Psychology Today Blogs, he suggests ten reasons why this might be so. Here’s one; follow the link for the rest.
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*Even if you don’t intend to dial back you Facebook usage, not using their smartphone app is a wise choice. It spies on users relentlessly. When I visit Facebook, which I must do once or twice a month as part of outreach efforts for outfits I reach out for–when you do outreach, you have to reach out to where the people are–I use a private browser window, so Facebook cannot continue to spy on me after I’m done with them.
Facebook Frolics 0
At the Seattle Times, Jacob Silverman calls it for what it is: Surveillance Capitalism. A snippet:
Fakebook Frolics 0
Remember, the internet is a public place.
Comport yourself accordingly.