Privacy.....Or is it?? (Post #5)

 

    Privacy, especially living in a digital age is rapidly eroding due to the sheer amount of technologies that are used to make sure you do NOT have privacy. After watching the Ted Talks, I can't help but be freaked out. I knew about the lack of privacy when it comes to social media and being online, those lengthy terms and agreements and how your phone is listening to you, I feel as if people my age have been desensitized by the ever-growing issue. What I never thought is that outside of the digital world, you continue to share a lot of information just by leaving your house.

    I learned that driving your car can reveal a lot of information about you. Where you go, who you're with, all of that can reveal who you are as a person, and when you combine that with others, the government is able to piece together how the public thinks. One of the scariest things I learned is the automatic license plate readers by cops. The fact that these devices are able to capture a picture of your license plate and any other car it rides near it, whether or not you did something wrong is scary. What's even more terrifying is the fact they keep this information due to it being so cheap to store, and are able to track where you were going and what you were doing in those moments. 

    To me, this seems like a major privacy breach. Sure, I understand about the criminals and how they're able to run plates quickly and efficiently, but the fact that this data isn't immediately deleted upon knowing the person you're essentially stalking is innocent is very creepy. Even weirder that they will ride past mosques just to see who was attending, who knows what else they're using this technology for. 

    These issues affect everyone in ways that are unrecognizable. Most people, like me at one point, figured that our information is safe because they have "nothing to hide" but it's the fact that there is no privacy anymore for anyone and the control over our own data and autonomy is being breached without our knowledge or consent. I feel as if there should be stronger data protection laws, especially since the average person may not know this is what's going on behind the scenes with their own sensitive information. The GDPR is a great example of how strict regulations can hold other accountable, which is something that the US should implement in order to ensure transparency, consent, data security and consumer rights. 

    While we are fighting for that, making sure that youre as protected on an individual level is a crucial step in order to be safe online. Using strong passwords, enabling two factor authentication and being mindful about what you decide to share online can help reduce how big your digital footprint is. While nothing is perfect, and these tips will not stop people from gaining some information from you, this can help significantly reduce your chances.

    Overall, privacy is absolutely a fundamental right, and we should all treat it as such. It's time to stop assuming that what youre doing online is harmless and start demanding for safeguards and regulations before it's too late.