Privacy: Our Not so Secret Lives

 Is Privacy Really "Private?"

    They know everything... our name, age, date of birth, location, address, and so much more. Nothing is top secret. Nothing is private.  In the Age of Artificial Intelligence, it easy for huge companies, such as Facebook, Apple, Twitter, or even the United States Government, to collect and analyze the data that we feed them to use it against our privacy rights. These companies don't care what you change your profile picture to, who you're dating, or what you're watching. All they seem to really care about is the algorithms they feed you to watch you and invade every inch of your right to privacy. 

    When watching “How Revenge Porn Turns Lives Upside Down” by Dairteh Chisolm, chills ran down my body as Chisolm describes the relationship and impossible breakup of her toxic ex-husband and how he attempted to sabotage her through uploading pictures of her on a personal website. As a TV personality, this obviously crushed Dairteh and her reputation, ultimately leading her into an 11 month long court case and 13 trips to fight for her rights in court. As a young adult, incidents like these absolutely terrify me for the future of our world and its ongoing advancements in technology. Never is it okay, nor right, to attempt to ruin a life in such a way... however, it is up to us, the users of such technologies, to use communication effectively, confidently, and carefully in order to prevent these types of situations from happening. However, no one deserves the right to our own privacy but each of us individually. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Apple, etc.... they simply do not deserve the right to track our data that they provide to the public. 

    I personally don' t believe people are fully aware of the amount of data that is actually tracked within their everyday lives. According to an article, the average probability that an organization will have a data breach of some kind has increased from 25.6% to 27.7% in the past year... that is absolutely bizarre, in my opinion. Why do these social media companies wish to do this much harm? Who are they giving this data too? The answer, though we may never truly understand, comes down to one thing: money. These companies ask us for such data simply to sell it around the world and make profit, since data is extremely valuable. So, regardless of morals, these companies do not care about invading privacy; they care about money. In this Age of Technology and its advancements continuing to grow, I fear for the future of the world and how far it will push basic human rights, along with morals, too. 

How is Social Media Invading Our Privacy? 

    Though many people don't realize it, these companies track us in several different ways. Social tracking is what companies use to track what you've liked, what you've searched, people you have followed or added as a friend, the photos you post, or even the profiles you visit the most. They use this activity to find out the kind of person you are and what content would suit your best interests. Data analysts can create profiles for you based on what you post to your social media profiles. By analyzing the types of websites you visit, these analysts determine what type of content fits you and your personal information, which is then sold to businesses for their financial benefit. Information leaks is known as a data privacy breach, which offenders include companies such as Facebook and WhatsApp. According to the article, in 2015, an attack on Facebook's computer network left over 50 million users' data exposed to the public... leaving its users to question their intentions and trust within the company. Phishing is a huge one, from personal experience, too. This occurs when you receive messages such as "look what they're saying about you," or "is this video yours?" followed by a link or even pictures. From research, according to this idea of privacy, this is a way in which criminals can gain access to one's personal information such as passwords or financial information. 

    Though these are just a few ways that information can be linked, the important thing to remember is this: watch your step. Not everyone's intentions are good. Not everyone wants to be your friend. You shouldn't click every link you come across, and be mindful of what information you're unveiling to the public. In the end, none of it is right. But in reality, who can stop these technology giants from stealing our basic human rights? 

Sources: 

https://www.fourview.com/blog/how-is-social-media-invading-your-privacy/

https://www.stimmel-law.com/en/articles/legal-right-privacy#:~:text=Invasion%20of%20privacy%20is%20the,or%20revelation%20of%2C%20something%20private.&text=One%20who%20intentionally%20intrudes%2C%20physically,other%20for%20invasion%20of%20privacy