Blog #8 PRIVACY TED talks

 Privacy 

How technology today has taken our right to privacy away in only a couple decades.

The following passage is a reflection after viewing the following TED talks. 

https://embed.ted.com/talks/juan_enriquez_how_to_think_about_digital_tattoos#

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwio66T6ncz0AhVoSjABHfE1BpYQFnoECAUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ted.com%2Fspeakers%2Fcatherine_crump&usg=AOvVaw1_Qgx7brNfdcNid98imOZV

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjitM-Mnsz0AhWtSjABHY8zDtcQtwJ6BAgDEAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ted.com%2Ftalks%2Fchristopher_soghoian_how_to_avoid_surveillance_with_the_phone_in_your_pocket%3Flanguage%3Den&usg=AOvVaw25F9uEOmqsHYGhAJLYdine

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjsw6Ginsz0AhU1RjABHc5CBAoQtwJ6BAgIEAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ted.com%2Ftalks%2Fdarieth_chisolm_why_we_need_revenge_porn_safeguards&usg=AOvVaw0fwAfPCTHRUzbwXBgt5rVr

    The issues brought up in these four videos only scratch the surface of the issues modern day Americans have regarding their personal information. The worst part is that there is nearly nothing you can do to protect yourself unless you went entirely off grid. This is obviously extreme and should not be the only way to avoid the government’s access to our information. The fact that I have never been in any legal trouble whatsoever, and the government could still use 2 decades of surveillance against me is insane. It is absolutely unfair and sick that by going about my daily life, the government can paint a picture of who they THINK I am. Any video or picture ever taken on a cell phone, any message I have sent or received, or any location I have been should not be anyone’s business but my own. 

    I’ve always talked to my friends about how hard it will be to find a president later in our adult lives. We have seen countless accusations of horrible things against people in the public eye. All accounts against these people however, were word of mouth accusations. With my generation however, we have grown up with technology our entire lives. Anything we could have done can be traced and brought back up to ruin us. This includes everyone. We are all human and the fact that we hold people to such a Saint standard is not realistic. How will wonderful people overcome one tiny dark spot from their past if our government can highlight any mistake we have ever done?

    The government should severely look at the pros and cons of these technologies. Any person who can seriously think about the issue from a citizens point of view should be outraged. How would these politicians like if their child was found doing something bad through their front faced cell phone camera. I’m sure they wouldn’t be happy that the tech companies have access to their baby monitors and have the ability to track their children. Sure they can catch bad guys with this technology. Great. But the majority of Americans are harmless and blameless of sick crimes that can be caught using these invasive technologies. 

    We can protect ourselves and loved ones by spreading awareness of what these technologies are capable of and take any steps possible to block out the information we wouldn’t like them to know. Front facing cell phone and computer cameras need to be covered at all times, unless you are taking a quick photo.