The podcast “The Privacy Paradox – note to self” (WNYC Studios) consists of 5 newsletters (podcast episodes), which include “tips and a short podcast explaining the science, psychology, and tech behind that day’s challenge.” (The Privacy Paradox, https://project.wnyc.org/privacy-paradox/) Now that you have listened to the first three episodes, it is time for us to reflect upon each day’s challenge.
Please use this blog entry to write about one episode of the first three episodes of the Privacy Paradox that particularly spoke to you. Which episode and their challenge provided the most interesting learning experience for you? For example, the first episode, “What your Phone knows” introduces you to different ways how to trim down our metadata collected by your phone. You could reflect in your blog entry how the first challenge made you think about what your phone actually knows? Did you further engage with recommended apps of the challenge or changed your privacy settings? If yes, what did you do? Do you think it is an effective step to take back your digital identity?
You might be already familiar with some of the Privacy Paradox Podcast suggestions or have discussed issues addresses in the Podcast over the course of the semester. Feel free to draw connections to other works that we have already discussed.
To answer Dr. Kollner’s questions, the episode that interested me the most was episode 2 : The search for your identity. This episode interested me the most because I felt as though I learned the most from this episode.
A couple of things that I found interesting about this episode were the thousands of categories that Facebook puts you into depending on what you like, view, etc. Another thing that I felt was interesting was that Facebook collects data from other places than just the app itself. I was not aware that some other apps have Facebook code within them and that Facebook buys data from third party data brokers. After reflecting about how Facebook collects data from apps that have Facebook code, I realized that when apps ask if they can log in with Facebook that is probably how Facebook is collecting data from those apps. Although I did not engage with the apps episode 2 asked me to do, I did think it was interesting that we are able to track what they’re learning about us. I feel as though many people believe that there is no way to track what exactly companies such as Facebook know about us but as all three of the episodes noted, it is possible to know and in a way control what the companies know.
I really enjoyed all three podcasts and I felt as though I learned something new from each one. I feel as though I’m constantly becoming more and more aware of what companies may know about me. Although that seems scary, I would rather know than be unaware of what’s happening.
I liked your point about how websites or apps sometimes ask you “log in with…” it is actually directly linking the data from the current app to the app you already have to make it “easier”. I never really thought of it that way, so thanks!
When listening to the first podcast the first thing that caught my attention was Melissa’s comment about being frustrated about the information being leaked about her and then being even more frustrated about the internet not knowing enough about her. I feel as though many people can relate to her whether they know it or not. From just finishing up the self-tracking experiment to listening to this podcast I have no doubt that our phones, even when off, collect data about us. Something that interests me is that with surveillance becoming a bigger topic nowadays the resources that have been made accessible to the public on how to secure your identity on the internet has increased. Yet you always find people complaining about how they can’t do anything about it, I mean sure you can only limit the effects of what surveillance can do but that’s still something. This podcast is the perfect example, giving its listeners the answer to what they’re probably wanting and that is a step by step manual on how to limit the invasion of their privacy. I thought that this episode was perfect for beginners who are just being introduced to the idea of surveillance and what comes with it, it’s a light listen but it provides real opinions and even shows you how to take control.
From everything we’ve been reading in this class the big takeaway for me were the opinions, people had on whether or not their privacy held any value to them. A lot of the times people insisted they had nothing to hide and they didn’t care if their google search on how to clean a sink took away from their identity. I understand that’s the case for a lot of other people but there are some who prefer everything being confidential, which doesn’t necessarily mean they’re hiding something but they obviously have reason to be more strict on the matter. This topic is a great way to learn not only about surveillance but about different points of view and learning from each other.
The episode I am writing about is episode 1 “What Your Phone Knows”. I picked this episode because it was so eye opening. It is scary to know how much your personal phone actually knows about you.
One thing I learned a lot about is metadata. The data collected from my phone is actually used mostly by marketers. While people are most fearful of their data going to criminals and the government, most of it is actually going to large companies. The rule of this episode is to turn locations and settings off for all apps unless they are completely necessary. Most apps have access to microphones and contacts and most people are okay with this. In this episode, it told us to explore the privacy settings in my phone. It was interesting to see how many apps I allowed to see my location. Most of them needed it like food ordering apps but a lot of them that had it on were unnecessary. The app introduced in the podcast was Signal. This app is an encrypted conversation app so people can communicate privately. They can use it safely. This app is commonly used by people who are worried about their own safety. Maybe they feel targeted by someone specific or just don’t want their data and messages shared with the world.
The most interesting part of this podcast to me was the fact that most of our information is actually sold. After doing some research, I found that in 2016 AT&T was selling customer data to large marketing corporations and making large profits from this. I think this is a huge invasion of privacy and makes me not trust any company who handles my private information.
The most interesting episode for me was Episode One about how much data your phone holds. A phrase someone in the podcast said stuck out to me- how people feel they are being sorted into an algorithm. This reminded me a lot of the Netflix documentary our class watched- the Social Network. In that documentary, they took this phrase literally and had AIs sorting and personalizing the algorithm. The facts they mentioned were scary. One that frustrated me was when they talked about how apps could ‘play’ with the privacy settings by not letting you access certain features without certain privacy settings turned off. This is almost like exploiting people. The challenge definitely made me consider how much data the apps on my phone hold. I didn’t complete the challenge or download the new app, but it was interesting to hear their ideas. I will definitely be changing my location services for several apps. I also want to look at my privacy settings for other apps.
Apps denying services unless we consent to giving up our data is also very frustrating to me! I remember when I was setting up by laptop, I was aghast at how much information they wanted me to give up and I had no choice as I have to use a laptop. It’s crazy how little choice we have, we either have to give up our data or not participate in the modern world in a lot of scenarios!
The podcast that I found most interesting was episode 2: The Search for your Identity. I believed this because the main theme of this episode is online advertising and how the companies find, sort, and track your information. I was hooked from the beginning because I have always thought about big companies and how they lure consumers in and manipulate them into giving information and/or buying a product. This episode was very informative and I gained new information about the advertising aspect of surveillance. One thing I learned about were Peddlers; they were people who went door to door selling items pertaining to the homeowners interests or what they needed. This was thought to be the “original direct marketing”. The peddlers would make assumptions and show the buyers what they think they would want to see based on stereotypes they have made, and not show them other items on purpose.
This podcast continued into more present day, department stores and how technology has impacted personal privacy heavily. People’s browsers could potentially be observed, getting access to messages and so much more. There was also a term from Facebook named “ethnic affinity”. Where facebook would categorize an individual based on people they interact with, or what Facebook feels their interests are. This was interesting to me because it seems strange that Facebook does this or are allowed to do this. After they tested this, it proved facebook wrong and they said they would “change their approach”. I feel as though some websites and companies have no remorse or care about their users as people, just as data for their databases. They suggested I go to panopticlick website and it scans my browser for any outside people/ computers that have access to my web browsers. I found this very interesting yet very scary. I do think it is an effective way to take back my digital identity and I know it is a trusted source.
The episode that really brought my attention was episode one. I knew that our phones collect our information when we made accounts for social media or when we’re going to order things off a site. But I never expected them having all of our information. At the beginning when Bruce Schneier mentioned that “if we were told to carry a tracking device, a police tracking device with us 24/7, we as a nation would rebel,” it really brought it to my attention because it’s true. And like he said since we have our phones on us all the time it made it way easier for them to track our steps. Where you went, who we spoke to, what we looked at that’s metadata. Many of the apps that we use track our location even if we are not using it. We give out so much information and we don’t even know. In this episode it also told us to explore the privacy settings in my phone. I was very surprised of how many apps i turned the location on.
In the class we have discussed of many different apps and things that have our information. Recently I have been using a app called “Life360” this apps allows you to share your location with your friends and family, how fast they drive, what percent their phone is on and so many more things. This app also has a gadget which is a big red circle, you hold this button down and it will alert the police and the people you are sharing your location with and it will show them where you at if your in danger. It’s really crazy how all of these apps know where we at and what we like and stuff.
The episode “The Search For Your Identity” was very interesting to me. It was scary to hear the very specific extent of the data collected on us, especially by facebook – like the category of “people who pretend to text in awkward situations”. Firstly, I’m very glad I don’t use facebook! However, there’s still so much data collected I didn’t know about, such as our digital fingerprint. The tool they recommended that shows what’s being collected sounds very helpful but truth be told ignorance is bliss and I’m a little scared to come to face with the depth of my data! Another piece of this podcast that stood out to me is the discrimination facebook allows by taking advantage of this data. Many people see computer science/data, all that, as very removed from the real world. But the truth is all the societal problems and biases and oppression seeps into technology, as it’s made by humans. To me, things like the discriminatory ad are the most pressing technological issue. I’d be very interested in learning more about that. This episode reminded me of the ‘Social Dilemma’ film, which also warned of similar issues with mass data collection.
The episode that caught my attention the most is “What Your Phone Knows”. I was aware of some of the thigs that our phones track, but they made a good point saying that we would never voluntarily do certain things yet we do them anyway. For example Bruce says that a lot of us wouldn’t be okay walking around with trackers everywhere, but in reality we do because through your phone people can know where you are at any time. Another example is that if we had to inform certain people, for instance the police, of certain things we wouldn’t, but then we go posting it on social media and talking about it with others through different apps. The reality of it all is that nothing on our phones are actually ours. I feel like a lot of people know this but we still use them anyway which is kind of crazy to me. I don’t mind too much about how my phone tracks me but I will definitely go into my settings to change some privacy settings within a few apps.
The first episode of the podcast series “The Privacy Paradox- note to self” made me rethink my app library and phone settings. The talk made me realize that I would never give the police my data if they ask, but I give apps access without hesitation. I become apart of the algorithm when they collect and sort my information. Bruce Schneier, a security technologist and cryptographer, introduces a new term, metadata. Metadata is what people look at when investigating people; it is data collected from surveillance. Once I put data out there or give apps access, it is permanently out there, no matter what. Most apps have access to data that they do not even need, but they use it as a market, selling consumers information. Taking part in the challenge, I turned off my location services for all of my apps unless I am physically on the app. I am planning on looking over my setting and make more privacy precautions when I have more time.
The first episode of the privacy paradox resonated most to me. The uneasy feeling of companies collected discussed in the episode hit the hammer on the nail. Not only does the information they collect make me feel privacy less but also what they do with the information. They compile us into algorithms and then sell that information to the highest bidder. They then also share the information with the government freely and at will. They collect this information in apps that request access to data on your device. They can also collect data from your digital assistants, i.e. Google, Siri, and Cortona. The most interesting challenge to me was from episode 2 Cover your tracks. I scored well, but still my browser had a unique fingerprint. I had heard of Tor before listing to the podcast and have downloaded it in the past. I have never felt the need to use it regularly, until doing the browser analysis. The information revealed to me was shocking, it knew what my resolution was, how much R.A.M. I had, how many cores my CPU had, and even more. I cannot say for sure I will switch to Tor, but I am considering it. Tor does not have the looks of Chrome or Firefox, but the goal of no unique digital fingerprints is worth the switch. I think that I we all switched it would help to take back our online anonymity. There are other things we can do as well such as switching search engines to duckduckgo.
The first episode was very intriguing and proved how much your phone knows about you. It recommends stuff for you it has your personal passwords saved and you can not hide much from it. Someone mentioned in the podcast that we are a part of an algorithm, which made me think differently about the situation. Overall, I think it open my eyes to what could be really going on beyond just the screen of our phones.
The episode that I found most interesting of the Privacy Paradox podcase was Episode 2: The Search for Your Identity for several reasons. I felt like this episode expanded on topics I was already familiar with and interested in, such as how apps and websites such as Facebook collect your data from more than just the website itself. The example of the viewer who had Google searched treatment options for her alcoholism was the most interesting to me, as the new advertisements recommended to her were liquor stores rather than a form of help for her issues. This goes to show the capitalistic, greedy nature of these companies, as Facebook would rather show this woman advertisements that would then benefit them financially in return from collecting and selling this person’s data, rather than using the collected data to help the user.
I have not explored data protection services since listening to this podcast, but I have been interested in purchasing a VPN, a virtual private network, such as Nord VPN or Express VPN for a while. These networks encrypt your data to keep it safe from hackers, or anyone attempting to steal your data. While this does not directly keep your information safe from greedy companies such as Facebook, it is a start to keeping your information safe online.