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1. Is it possible to identify someone, perhaps a patient, knowing just the gender, birth date, and zip code? Why or why not?
You can identify most people in the United States by knowing only their gender, birth date, and zip code. It isn't that difficult because you can narrow down your search to a small area using the zip code, then eliminate half of the options in that area by knowing the gender. You are left with relatively few people, and it is somewhat unlikely that many people have the same birth date.
2. Are electronic documents like paper documents? Write 2-3 sentences comparing and contrasting them.
Electronic documents and paper documents have some similarities and some differences. Both types of documents accomplish the same purpose of recording or writing something. However, electronic documents are easier to trace to their source because they come with a digital fingerprint of sorts that paper documents do not have. If you wanted to trace a paper document you could look at the handwriting on it or maybe a watermark if it had one.
3. Earlier in the course, you built the Map Tour app. In the final version, what kind of data is collected from the user? Does the user know the data is being collected? Can they opt out of providing data and still use the app?
The final version of the Map Tour app used an internal GPS to determine the location of the user so they could input their current position as destination in the list of destinations. The user would know that this data was being collected if they set their location as a destination. If a function was made that allowed users to opt out, most of the app would still work, but some functionality would be lost.
4. Is the Privacy Act effective? Explain why or why not.
The Privacy Act was designed to protect citizens from invasive government practices, but after the attack on the World Trade Center, government organizations like the FBI found ways of circumventing this act and still obtaining private information about citizens. Thus, the Privacy Act of 1974 has not been effective in recent years.
5. Are you willing to trade some of your privacy for the convenience of having a computer or a company recommend products to you? Why or why not? Under what circumstances?
I own a computer, so I guess I am willing to be monitored. I feel uncomfortable knowing that companies and the government are tracking my online presence, even though I have never done anything criminal. Without a computer or smartphone, however, it would be nearly impossible to function in the modern world, so it feels like there is nothing I can do about it.
6. How do we leave digital "footprints and fingerprints?" Do you think this is important for everyone to know? Why or why not?
We leave digital footprints and fingerprints whenever we do anything on a device. Downloading music or videos, messaging people, opening a document, and copying files all leave a trace of your presence electronically. Everyone should be aware of this because it is important to know that nothing you do online is ever really private. There are ways for companies, the government, or individuals to find out what you are doing.
7. How have social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. affected our privacy?
Social media platforms have decreased our amount of privacy and how much we value our privacy. People share enormous amounts of personal information on social media that could be used against them, and they hardly think twice about the implications of their actions.
8. In this course, you are building apps that collect data from users, the device, and its sensors. What responsibilities do we have as app developers for the data we collect?
As app developers we have a duty towards our users to use their data responsibly. If app developers used the data they collected against users for personal gain, then nobody would trust them with any amount of their personal data (unless it was Facebook, apparently).
9. Search the web for a recent news story that deals with privacy. Write a paragraph summarizing the article, including any beneficial or harmful impacts on privacy.
I read a New York Times article about a recent Facebook security breach that exposed the personal information of 50 million users. This is a major detriment to personal privacy for millions of people, and will lower their sense of security in Facebook and other social media platforms.
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