Embedded Files
Concern for Social Media Users
Concern for Social Media Users
Since Edward Snowden's exposure of the NSA's presence in our daily internet lives, there has been much controversy over issues such as outside forces having access to one's online data, with the ability to hack or even track a person at any time. Many Americans are unhappy with this seemingly overbearing outside grasp on their personal lives. Despite the government's apparent good intentions, many are worried about the potential repercussions when this information is used by other, less well-intentioned entities.
The Case for Total Privacy
The Case for Total Privacy
Despite online companies' apparent innocuous use of data, much concern has risen over their access to user data in the first place, and led to fear of tracking or hacking by dishonest sources with access to this information. Col. Cedric Leighton, former deputy director of training at the NSA says that "cell phones are really miniature radios. Their broadcasts are vulnerable to interception and that means conversations can be picked up by unauthorized third parties [with] the right equipment" (4).
According to Bruce Schneier, a cybersecurity expert at Harvard Kennedy school, Personalized advertising is how advertising companies make a big part of their money. "It’s very profitable, and it feeds off the natural property of computers to produce data about what they are doing. They are ubiquitous surveillance devices beyond the wildest dreams of Cold War East Germany". According to him, "we’re the product, not the customer" (2).
Though the survey on the home page yielded a variety of results regarding the responsibility to limit this kind of access to personal information, Schneier says "The only effective way to control big corporations is through big government. But the government has failed in protecting consumers from internet companies and social media giants" (2).
Coleman, Rebecca. "Low-tech tips to protect your privacy online"
Taken from“When It Comes to Internet Privacy, Be Very Afraid, Analyst Suggests.”Harvard Gazette, Liz Mineo, August 24 2017, Web.
Going off the grid might seem like a reasonable solution to this problem, albeit an unreasonable one in today's technology-infused world. The issues that arise from such a total disconnect may well be too much for the average internet user to handle, and they may be forced to live without knowledge of internet privacy.
The Government's Role
The Government's Role
A wave of subliminal Television advertisements aimed at children in the 1970s led to a similar movement to limit corporations' power on consumers, ultimately leading to acts and laws being passed to limit this access to consumer data, more recently the USA freedom act of 2015. Harvard Professor Shoshana Zuboff coined the term "surveillance capitalism" to describe this use of consumer information in order to increase the number of potential consumers.
Allowing the government and businesses access to everyday internet information gives outside forces power over everyday consumers, and creates a helpless society negating democracy itself. Ultimately, it becomes a question of how far these corporations are allowed to go until they are stopped by the government.
The Case for Selected Privacy
The Case for Selected Privacy
The advertisements that have the online world in uproar serve several purposes. The partial collection of data on media platforms can distinguish potential customers for a certain product, and tailor the ads based on consumer interest, to save time and money.
The principal goal of ad campaign optimization is to reach the desired marketing objectives (i.e. sales, site visits, registrations) at the lowest price possible.
Online advertisements are tailored to directly cater to customers' interests and needs; using consumer data from social media companies costs less than researching the specific wants of a diverse base of consumers. This way, money is saved for both the ad and social media companies, and potential consumers can be created more reliably. "The light touch approach on privacy that the U.S. government has engaged in has enabled American innovators to develop some of the best services we see online today and internationally," said Carl Szabo, policy counsel for Netchoice, an online trade company for businesses (4).
"In the U.S., we don't have a general privacy law. ... You don't have a right to not be surveyed," said Jules Polonetsky, executive director of the Future of Privacy Forum (4). Though it may be considered an unethical marketing tactic, this direct targeting of online consumers is not illegal, and therefore tolerated by those in charge of regulating internet privacy.
For a discussion of the regulation of social media companies by federal government, see The Legal Aspect.
For a discussion of the regulation of social media companies by federal government, see The Legal Aspect.
Works Cited
1."Apple CEO Tim Cook Slams Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg: I Wouldn't Be In This Situation | MSNBC", Youtube, Web.
2. Schneier, Bruce. "On internet privacy, be very afraid." Interview by Harvard Gazette. The Harvard Gazette, Web.
3. Tiku, Nitasha. "Are Google and Facebook undermining Europe's privacy rules?" Wired, Conde Nast publications, Web
4. Zaru, Deena. "Dilemmas of the Internet age: privacy vs. security." CNN, Turner Broadcasting System, Web.
5. Vedantam, Shankar. "The Pitfalls Of Social Media Advertising." National Public Radio, 29 Sept. 2017, Web.
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