Even the Net Gen cheerleader, Don Topscott, sees this “dark cloud . . that few Net Geners have yet seen. . . I don’t think the Net Geners fully understand the long-term consequences of sharing intimate information about themselves with the world.” In his book Grown Up Digital, he is alerting us all to the perils hidden on the other side of all these great new tools we've started to take for granted:
1. Miniature audio and video recorders:
Positive = convenience,
Negative = anyone can get a picture of you almost anytime (with or without you being aware) and upload it and share as they choose (not you!)
2. Cell phones with GPS:
Positive = help for when you’re lost or in an emergency situation;
Negative = you can be tracked 24/7/365
3. Social networking software:
Positive = quick, easy connection and access to friends;
Negative = not always having the ability to control what information you’re sharing with whom.
4. Online shopping/banking:
Positive = convenience and time saver;
Negative = sending private data out to the cloud (hoping that it is well encrypted), risk of stolen identities
5. Google (and other powerful search engines):
Positive = powerful search engine
Negative = gathering and selling information about you without your knowledge
Luckily, as the Center for Democracy and Technology states, “a unique combination of tools -- legal, technical, and self-regulatory -- is being designed to address the privacy concerns of Internet users.” Therefore, as educators and internet users, we need to educate ourselves and our students to take the self-regulatory and technical steps possible to safe guard our online data privacy. And as citizens we need to fight for adequate legal regulations that will address these privacy risks.
Self-Regulatory and Technical Steps
Here are a few good resources to increase our own understanding of how to improve privacy and help our students understand
1. 5 steps to better online privacy (includes list for several technical privacy tools including firewalls, cookie removers, anonymous web browsers, and anti-spyware tools) from the Australian government.
2. Extensive guide to Online Privacy from the Center for Democracy & Technology
3. On Guard Online (a Web site sponsored by the federal government and the technology industry to help users stay on guard against Internet fraud, secure their computers, and protect their personal information.) which includes tips, interactive “Cyber smarts” quizzes, and videos about online safety.
Mobile Platform and Cloud Computing
As more and more users online time is shifting to the mobile platform functioning "in the cloud", it is key to learn about and talk with kids about guarding their privacy there as well. The Center for Digital Democracy came up with Ten Questions To Ask Your Cell Phone Provider—and the Online Marketers They Work With—to Protect Your Mobile Privacy.
Legal and Technical Steps
The above issues were some of the more obvious ones. Luckily there are legislative organizations tackling the more complex and "invisible" online privacy issues. Check out this YouTube 7-minute video interview with Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, about the state of online privacy and the challenges citizens face today.
You may also want to check out their extensive Online Guide to Practical Privacy Tools (i.e. snoop proof email, anonymous surfing, and encryption tools.)
It is evident that we need to have regulations in order for companies to be responsible in safeguarding and educating consumers about privacy issues. Here are some specific recent legal actions being taken in this arena:
1. FTC's Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
2. European Union takes legal action against a British online advertising technology
3. EPIC Files FTC complain concerning GOOGLE Data breach, calls for federal investigation into cloud computing security
Still wondering . . .
We obviously have a long road ahead in our journey of trying to secure online privacy. I remain curious to see to what extent we will ever be able to safeguard our online privacy and to what extent companies will help or hinder the average user in reaching this goal. I remain cautiously hopeful that human ingenuity will overcome all obstacles at the technical and self-regulatory levels. However, don't we need international level of legal steps since functioning in the cloud does not correspond to geopolitcal borders? If we can't get unanimous agreement on nuclear disarmament or a ban on landmines, how can we hope that all nations will agree to the same level of online privacy legislation?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/room929/428260081/
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