Digital Democracies Conference:
Hellen Nissenbaum covers a wide range of topics concerning web browsers and search engines. She focuses in on the idea of Obfuscation, which she explains takes the approach of obscuring your info by introducing noise instead of trying to hide it. She discusses two of her own projects during the talk: TrackMeNot and AdNauseum. TrackMeNot was made as a response to finding out that search engines save our search queries. TrackMeNot is a browser add on that sends fake queries to the search engines (by using Obfuscation!). AdNauseum is another add on that virtually clicks on and likes all of the adds that a user encounters. The program stores all of the ads clicked on in an “AdVault” which can be accessed to show what ads the industry has been sending you and, in turn, how the industry views you. It gives us some intelligence of how our individual profiles are being viewed.
Nissenbaum argues that she believes the future is private – as do many of the other authors/speakers present in this week’s readings/videos. How do you feel about this statement? Do you believe the future is private?
Cyborgology:
Jenny Davis uses her article to talk about an app called SpotterEDU. SpotterEDU advertises itself as a “automated attendance monitoring and early alerting platform”. The idea is that students download the app and then universities can keep track of who’s coming to class. While it sounds useful and interesting, it’s not worth the social cost; students would now experience full, unhidden surveillance and may be judged based on how they spend their time. One of the most effective examples is when Davis brings up the idea of financial aid under this system: “Students on financial aid may have their funding predicate on behavioral metrics such as class attendance or library time.” She furthers this point by saying, “Students who work full time may be penalized for attending class less regularly or studying from remote locations.” This system would also collect data and form an average that reflects that demographic majority – which she points out is white, upper-middle class. Which means that many demographic minorities would be flagged as abnormal and in need of more surveillance and intervention. The system may look good at a glance, but this would result in too much surveillance and the data could be exploited – because data is a valuable source.
Can you think of any experiences you’ve had that feel similar to or align with the idea of this app? For example, has there been an app that has worried you? Or does your phone’s camera scare you? Etc.