The ability, especially of corporations or governments, to collect data that should not be publicly available.
Data Privacy (54)
Find narratives by ethical themes or by technologies.
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- 10 min
- Quartz
- 2019
A comparison of surveillance systems in China and the US which target, and aid in the persecution of, ethnic minorities. Data on targeted people is tracked extensively and compiled into intuitive databases which can be abused by government organizations.
- Quartz
- 2019
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- 10 min
- Quartz
- 2019
China embraces its surveillance state. The US pretends it doesn’t have one
A comparison of surveillance systems in China and the US which target, and aid in the persecution of, ethnic minorities. Data on targeted people is tracked extensively and compiled into intuitive databases which can be abused by government organizations.
Discussion Prompts:
In what ways are the surveillance systems of the US and China similar? Should big tech companies be allowed to contract with the government on the scale that a company like Palantir did?
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- 30 min
- Wired
- 2019
In China, “supercompanies” such as WeChat or Alipay aggregate massive amounts of varied data on users. The Zhima Credit score system directly influences the agency of users by limiting their options in acting in their environment, or determining with whom they interact. The Chinese government interests itself with allying with large tech companies to incorporate a social ranking system which can be used to control and suppress citizens. Although the United States does not have “supercompanies” like those mentioned from China, the large companies that collect user data in the US certainly have the same potential to limit human agency.
- Wired
- 2019
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- 30 min
- Wired
- 2019
Inside China’s Vast New Experiment In Social Ranking
In China, “supercompanies” such as WeChat or Alipay aggregate massive amounts of varied data on users. The Zhima Credit score system directly influences the agency of users by limiting their options in acting in their environment, or determining with whom they interact. The Chinese government interests itself with allying with large tech companies to incorporate a social ranking system which can be used to control and suppress citizens. Although the United States does not have “supercompanies” like those mentioned from China, the large companies that collect user data in the US certainly have the same potential to limit human agency.
Discussion Prompts:
How does social credit instituted by technology help perpetuate social division? What level of privacy is appropriate when it comes to social standing? Where should the line be drawn in terms of making decisions about people based on their digitally collected data?
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- 10 min
- The Washington Post
- 2019
Law enforcement officials at Federal and state levels, notably the FBI and ICE, use state driver’s license photo databases as a repository for facial recognition software. Such capabilities allow DMVs to help law enforcement in finding those suspected of a crime, undocumented immigrants, or even witnesses. Ultimately, states allow this to happen with certain stipulations, feeding into a concerning system of facial recognition and breach of trust. There is not a solid established system for citizen consent to such monitoring.
- The Washington Post
- 2019
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- 10 min
- The Washington Post
- 2019
FBI, ICE find state driver’s license photos are a gold mine for facial-recognition searches
Law enforcement officials at Federal and state levels, notably the FBI and ICE, use state driver’s license photo databases as a repository for facial recognition software. Such capabilities allow DMVs to help law enforcement in finding those suspected of a crime, undocumented immigrants, or even witnesses. Ultimately, states allow this to happen with certain stipulations, feeding into a concerning system of facial recognition and breach of trust. There is not a solid established system for citizen consent to such monitoring.
Discussion Prompts:
Does this case study of facial recognition make the US seem like a surveillance state or not? How can and should average citizens have more agency in DMV databases being used for facial recognition? Can the government use any digital surveillance in a way that does not breach citizen trust?
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- 7 min
- Wired
- 2019
Internet users should start considering private browsers such as Duckduckgo to promote privacy and prevent personalized search results and ads. Many different pieces of software, including browsers by larger tech companies, are beginning to take this approach of erasing data, blocking outside tracking, or preventing cookies.
- Wired
- 2019
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- 7 min
- Wired
- 2019
It’s Time to Switch to a Privacy Browser
Internet users should start considering private browsers such as Duckduckgo to promote privacy and prevent personalized search results and ads. Many different pieces of software, including browsers by larger tech companies, are beginning to take this approach of erasing data, blocking outside tracking, or preventing cookies.
Discussion Prompts:
Consider if the privacy-oriented browsers described in the article were the default. Whose interests would this work towards? Whose interests would this work against?
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- 15 min
- n/a
- 2017
An exploration of Venmo transactions for five different randomly selected users. On Venmo, all transactions are public by default, and users can take certain steps to make this information private.
- n/a
- 2017
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- 15 min
- n/a
- 2017
Public by Default: The Tales of Venmo
An exploration of Venmo transactions for five different randomly selected users. On Venmo, all transactions are public by default, and users can take certain steps to make this information private.
Discussion Prompts:
If you have Venmo, do you have in on private or public mode? Have you ever thought about what having your transactions publicised could lead to? Who could use information like what you are hungry for or your relationships to other people, and how?
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- 10 min
- Field of Vision
- 2017
Video criticising the AT&T and NSA partnership, which allowed the NSA to spy on the UN, the World Bank, etc, by installing its surveillance equipment in AT&T hubs.
- Field of Vision
- 2017
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- 10 min
- Field of Vision
- 2017
Project X: Field of Vision
Video criticising the AT&T and NSA partnership, which allowed the NSA to spy on the UN, the World Bank, etc, by installing its surveillance equipment in AT&T hubs.
Discussion Prompts:
How do you know that your conversations are not being spied on at the moment? Would you like to have more reassurance?