Understanding the Possibilites
Listening to the Technopanic podcast on Digital Justice, Surveillance, & Invisible Walls in this week’s reading, I was especially concerned about surveillance capitalism, as well as, pervasive surveillance. While I was already well aware that global business houses and corporations use people’s data to gauge their preferences and eventually feed them with preferred products and its likes to increase their sales and profit ratios, the discussion presented by Gilliard highlighted quite a few new concerns as well. Gilliard pointed out that knowing how these companies currently use online data is not adequate since there always remain the chance of newer strategies which they can adopt to use the same information for greater profit margin, and even other purposes. The example of a kid doing something on the webcam, and business enterprises eventually figuring out a way of using that information for profit, was an especially scary proposition which must be taken seriously. Additionally, the concern over pervasive surveillance was also vital, as were the concerns over consent and blocking of access to different websites.
In a closely related dimension, the issue of pervasive surveillance, discussed with some clarity in the podcast, was a major concern that always intrigued me. Gilliard highlighted that uploaded pictures, photographs, and various other types of data can be used by companies not only for profit-making but even for atrocious activities like tracking, illegal usage, etc. Previously, I had seen pranksters using others’ photographs from their Facebook profile to pull off jokes on fellow students and friends. Despite enjoying the naïve jokes among friends, I also felt concerned over the security of personal data on online platforms. Gilliard’s discussion not only underlined these concerns but also highlighted the grave extent of these security issues. Gilliard flagged that many companies use these data even at the risk of violating their terms of agreement, making it a major issue that every internet user must be well aware of. Similarly, in a related vein, the podcast also shed extensive light on the importance of consent and the situation of surveillance on kids. Gilliard indicated the importance of talking to children about internet use, rather than imposing ‘ironclad rules’ which restrict their use, or even spying on children to track the same. His discussion about asking his child to write down how a phone was to be used, seem like an effective method of monitoring and guiding children in their use of technology since it also offers the child to experience and grow, instead of trying to hide away from surveillance.
The podcast was highly enriching, not only due to its elaboration on surveillance but especially because it underlined various options which might come to reality. Ranging from companies figuring newer methods of using personal data, to the proper guidance which can help children learn how to use internet, it is important to note the various possibilities. As summarized by Kristen Turner at the end of the podcast “just understanding the possibilities is the first step for us”; and the podcast did just the same.
