Privacy (not)

Psst. Do you want to know a secret?

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Just the other day, I tried to download and use an app that a friend had recommended.  I was looking forward to having a few more minutes each day, if this app really delivered on its promises.

Except…

The app told me to buzz off.  Because I won’t activate location services on my phone.  Which really got me to thinking.  Why the heck does this app need me to tell it where I am?  It’s doing nothing related to where I am.  Or not.  And, then I realized this app was expecting to collect data about my tasks, my travels, my phone calls, my eMails, my expenditures.  The only purpose this was required was to allow them to generate revenue selling my data to someone else.

And, that’s happening to us all the time.  When you walk into a store, it knows who you are.  Because you’ve left location services on, left WiFi on,  left BlueTooth on, maybe even your “mobile wallet”…  So, you are broadcasting, “Here the hell I am”- to every living soul- and computer- in the vicinity.   Which means the store knows all about you and what you may or may not be ready to buy.    Our smartphones have outsmarted us- because now they let all those companies who have been dying to sell us, to tell us, to propel us somewhere have all the tools they need to do so.

Privacy (not)

I yell (I don’t mince words) at my kids all the time about this.  My youngest tells me I am paranoid.  (I remind him that I know what it’s like when the government decides to track you- everywhere and anywhere.   So, it’s not paranoia- it’s clear thinking.)

In theory, we don’t want all these companies to know everything about us.   But, in reality, we like when these firms “personalize” their offerings to what we want.  (How DO you think they do that?)

I’ve written about the algorithms developed almost daily to help firms track our moves and predict our thoughts.

My settings are why Google won’t provide me driving directions, why Uber won’t pick me up if I need a taxi, among other things.  So, I know the trade-off- and gladly accept those “limitations”.  (I am also working to make these firms’ spying to be illegal.)

But, consider that our government is also collecting this data.  (I’ve written about police departments using this data to predict where crime will occur and to schedule policing activities.) And, given the statements of our new President and his ever-present proclivity to get even, does that not scare you enough to stop your broadcasting?   To turn off your location services,  your WiFi, your BlueTooth, your mobile wallet?  And, especially to lock down your camera- since I can turn it on remotely.

By the way, you look lovely in your underwear.

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4 thoughts on “Psst. Do you want to know a secret?”

  1. I fear it is the price we pay to assure we are in the wider distribution channels. I find it frightening because of the number of men,
    American military and middle Eastern, that send bride requests which I immediately delete but hope never show up at my door. But perhaps that’s the price for being “out there”.

    1. I feel that I, too, am “out there”, Midge. But, not so easily found.
      Yes, I have to spend 10 more seconds finding what I want (because I don’t get bombarded with those ads when I do a search- but it also means I serve as my own filter)…
      It’s the trade-off that I gladly make.

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