The Dark Side: Privacy & Data
- ShashikaJP
- May 20, 2020
- 2 min read
Now we all know how great the internet is and how grateful we should be to have access to such an innovative and necessary tool.... Thank you Tim Bernes-Lee!! We also know for every good, there always a little bad. So how do we manage that with the internet?
With the billions of individuals who use the internet, there is that much and heaps more data that is constantly circulating. For every new sign up, new data is created and stored. Sites will use tools called 'cookies', and no they aren't the edible kind. But these 'cookies' are used to track activity to gear the right information to the user.
Let's have a look at a privacy and data issue example.
I'm sure during this global pandemic you have used or at least heard of Houseparty. The popular video chat app that helps you and your friends be together when you're not together.
Houseparty was brought to recent attention that hackers were infiltrating the platform putting users and their data at risk. Tweets alleged the unknown hackers were gaining access to users' Netflix, Spotify and Paypal accounts. Houseparty had put out a statement on their blog claiming their platform was secure. They then continued to build a team with external experts to investigate, to ensure that users do not need to worry about the security of [their] data.
So what data does the app have access to? The app does have access to user data which they pass on to their partner for targeted advertising. You might be wondering, how do they do that? Well, remember the long document of terms and conditions before signing up to a service? Probably not because we tend to skip over it and agree just to access the service faster. Embedded in the terms and conditions for Houseparty, we find that agreeing allows Life On Air (an advertising service) and its subsidiaries have access to gather data on the user and their friends to place advertising targeted to the content or information relevant to them.
What can we take away from this? I suppose as users, we have to be a little more cautious of terms and conditions to avoid feeling deceived by brands, companies and businesses that may use our data with our permission. And as brands, companies and businesses we need to ensure that the data we are accessing is agreed to and other data is ensured to be secure and out of reach of potential danger.
So what do you think, any other situations you know of that have caused discussion about privacy and data?
Great post Shashika! In regards to your topic, the privacy is becoming a big issue nowadays. I really don't know how did those hackers are able to hack in to the data and so on. Other than that House Party example, I remember that Zoom also having the privacy issue. All the meetings and chats were leaked out from them.Thus, it makes people don't trust them anymore.
Great blog Shashika. I, myself have used house party in the last couple months, what else could I be doing with my time at the moment. It is daunting to hear of a potential serious data breach on the app, which is validated with Life on Air having access to our data. Makes me think of the Facebook Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which personal data was used for political advertising, and is believed by some to be influential in the results of the 2016 US elections as well as Brexit. It makes you question the morals of the social media giants, and the compromise made when we are the product, rather than the consumer.
This is a great read Shashika! This issue is so relevant right now as we are constantly trying to connect with our family and peers via the use of these applications like Houseparty. Sometimes I tend to skip over the terms and conditions, but this has definitely made me more aware of the importance of that legal statement. Another application that I heard, who had a lot of access to our data was Zoom (although I don't know if this is a rumour, so I need to do more research).
A great read, Shashika. The topic of privacy is growing more scary these days. I guess, if the product/service is free - then you are the one that is being sold. And the obnoxious Terms and Conditions don't really help either. Just gotta go through and filter through the settings before using a service I guess.
Excellent post Shashika! I remember the issue in regard to the House Party hackers. But one particular application that has posed a threat to our privacy is TikTok. Below is an explanation of how two developers found the issue in regard to its vulnerability. https://www.cpomagazine.com/cyber-security/new-tiktok-vulnerability-allows-hackers-to-show-fake-videos-on-users-account/