Category: privacy

Could you do without social media for 48 hours?

Like anything, I think if you, like me, believe strongly in personal privacy, you’ll consider this idea of staying off social media for 48 hours from the 4th to the 5th of July 2019. (If you’re in the states that’s 7/4/19-7/5/19).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-48825410

Why is this important?

We do not own our own data if posted to social media. Why? It’s our data… But it helps the social media organisations, most especially Facebook, know who we are, what we like, what we do and – most importantly – what that might translate to for advertising placement.

I know many understand that they are the commodity, but is your data being used for good or…?

I’m all for a 48 hour self-imposed ban, even if now that only means Instagram or Twitter as I deactivated Facebook because I no longer trust the platform. (Equally those who matter the most to me have my details and often communicate to me that way, rather than the Facebook route).

Recognising your data self

(Yes, I know the title is a direct reference to “that” advert with Marcus Brigstocke).

This BBC article is an interesting read.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-48434175#

It should spark people to rethink what and where they share. If you submitted a subject access request you may be equally stunned to see what companies know – and surmise – about you.

And as shown, not all the guesses are accurate, perhaps that’s also driving this “fake” world we now seem to inhabit.

Google’s Android fine and consequences

Now this is an interesting read: https://bgr.com/2018/07/18/google-eu-fine-analysis-android-doesnt-need-to-be-free/

Google fixed the search options in Android, which is a “free” OS.

Like Facebook, Google needs user data and their search results to serve its own “real” customers.

Its interesting to see that it’s response is to consider charging for the OS.

Remember, who is the true customer and who is the real product…

Do you have a social conscience?

More and more these days it seems people are out for number 1 and blow the rest of the world.

I find this lack of consideration for others to be an abysmal indication of the direction our society is heading. Indeed, was A Clockwork Orange too predictive? It does seem to be going that way.

A counter to that is seeing that there are citizens prepared to do what they can to improve the lots of others.

This site, https://www.mysociety.org/, is just one such example. Fixmystreet is a tool I have used many times. The affected councils don’t always seem to react which is the most disappointing aspect of using the tool, but if everyone was to use the tool, perhaps they might get the message that some things really do need to be fixed.

TheyWorkForYou is equally a good way to monitor what your MP does, and I eventually gave up monitoring mine because all he seemed to be focused on was self aggrandisement and whether he could help his corporate chums. Never a word about constituents in a way that let you believe he truly represents you.

If we all used these tools, we could improve our society – and who knows – may be that would be a bigger step towards the care and consideration that we should all expect?

The dangers of some smart speakers

I will say up front I am not a fan of Amazon as I feel they, like some others, do not have user privacy at the forethought of their operations.

This story from the BBC perhaps reinforces that when you read the sequence of events.

Either they don’t care about privacy or Alexa just isn’t as smart as some think…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-44248122

Not investigating seems wrong to me

If there is as serious an allegation that, if true, has various people saying it should be investigated properly, then having such an investigation denied, that seems wrong to me.

The investigation could be held in private, the results kept private and so on, if there are any security or similar concerns.

To just not investigate is plain wrong and does nothing to reinforce public belief that the MPs and their associated processes are nothing but an old boys (and girls) network.

Bad move MPs

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44148019

Whistleblowers should expect and deserve privacy

No one wants to be a whistleblower, nor does anyone wish to be the target of a whistleblower either.

However, the function is a necessary and worthwhile safeguard to ensure compliance, especially where any business is and has to be secretive in what it is doing.

As the article says, the Barclays boss is very lucky to still be employed and also not sufficiently reprimanded to be blackballed from future banking roles, though one might think he is as close as he could be to that status.

Privacy for this function of whistleblowing is key and is enshrined in law in some countries. Long may that continue.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44081942

iOS 11.4 looks like limiting law enforcement USB access

Based on the report below, it seems likely Apple are reinforcing user’s rights to privacy.
It’s a double edged sword of course, but I must admit I’d feel a lot safer with this limitation in place, not because of law enforcement, but because nefarious types won’t be able to use it either.
Any technology the good guys get to break security, eventually makes it into the wild, so better to engineer against that from the start.
Have a read.

iOS 11.4 security tool is Apple’s newest way to foil the Feds

Privacy should apply to all

For any president or high official to do this sort of “dirty tricks” style investigation is not just bad but sad that they think it necessary

I do wonder with some topics just how much we are misled into believing their truth than what is really occurring

Where this president is concerned  nothing surprises me but equally it does distress me that they think this is acceptable.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/05/trump-team-hired-spy-firm-dirty-ops-iran-nuclear-deal

Has social media reached a key inflexion point?

This is a very interesting read.

I’ve seen more folk have chosen to leave Facebook, but equally that it’s not a major negative spiral effect. Many are staying because of peer pressure, for example, parents needing to stay in touch with each other and no other equal or better competitor.

However, I believe many would agree that they’re taking slightly more care over their online privacy after the various misuses of personal data that have happened.

I found the sub commentary about the young using data apps and increasing wealth gaps very intriguing, and believable.

That sort of analysis is most interesting because we’re not going to give up being online, using mobile devices or wanting to be social. They’re all either essentials of our lives now.

We will equally see significantly more focus on security, privacy and the individual’s rights in coming years.

Social media needs to grow up much more to regain a lot of lost trust, both from its users and those who fund it.

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/social-media-facebook-mark-zuckerberg-google-data-privacy-a8315986.html