A recent article in the New York Times shares solutions for those who want to limit the openness of their data sharing online. On the one hand the digital revolution has allowed an explosion of data making it easier for companies to tailor their services to our behaviour. However not everyone shares this point of view. Security experts are not worried about hackers getting into your information, they’re more concerned about
“…Internet service providers, search engine operators, e-mail suppliers and Web site administrators — particularly if a single entity acts in more than one capacity, like Google, Yahoo, Facebook and AOL. This means they can easily collect and cross-reference your data, that is, match your e-mails with your browsing history, as well as figure out your location and identify all the devices you use to connect to the Internet. “The worst part is they sell this extremely creepy intrusion as a great boon to your life because they can tailor services to your needs,” said Paul Ohm, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Law School in Boulder who specializes in information privacy and computer crime. “But do most people want to give that much away? No.”
In the Connective Age, it is precisely the sharing of information that allows us to benefit from having everything connected to everything else. How can we do this in a way that promotes openness and transparency yet reduces the possibility of others taking advantage of this in a malicious way?
