The hot topic of privacy and cellular devices have been taking over the media for the last couple of years. Our society has become aware that the government can spy on us and hold records of data about us; yet we still choose to use these devices. After watching the TED Talks posted to the class blog, I was given a whole new perspective of how much the government really knows about us. The speakers provided specific examples that no one really thinks of which made a lot of people in the crowd uncomfortable.
I was very intrigued by Juan Enriuquez’s TedTalk. He opened the talk up with the topic of tattoos and how they are permanent on peoples’ body and display a message or meaning. He connected a real tattoo with our cellular devices and called it an “electronic tattoo”. He describes an electronic tattoo as something that provides just as much information about you as a regular tattoo does and people are plastered with these electronic tattoos from how much they put about themselves online. This was a very interesting approach that I had never thought about. I believe that it really helped paint the picture for others on how much of what they put online, stays online. And it will stay online way past after death.
Catherine Crump shocked the audience when she talked about how much information the police have on everyone. She explained that mass surveillance is allowing police to access information about everyone and location information reveals where you go. This helps the police better understand how people interact with other people and what you do on a daily basis. In addition, she talks about the automatic license plate reader; a device that snaps pictures of every car that moves past it and put the license plate in a document. Although it is claimed that this is used to find criminals, people who are not guilty of any crime are still in this document with a picture of their car every time they pass one of these automatic license plate readers. The police can see where everyone is going and at what time.
Christopher Soghoian explains the surveillance system process to the audience. He claims that these systems apply to everyone and telephone companies have access to listen to any phone call you make. Therefore, the next call you’re on the government could be listening. He raises the problem on how criminals can hack into these systems and get a hold of your information as well.
I knew that the government had a lot of information on us, however, my eyes were definitely open after listening to these TED Talks. It gave me a new perspective on how much variety they have on finding data and information. Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Click here for Juan Enriuquez's TED Talk!
Click here for Catherine Crump's TED Talk!
Click here for Christopher Soghoian's TED Talk!
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