Post 8: Privacy Online

 The first Ted Talk video, by Juan Enriquez, is about the awareness people need to have about the things they do and say online. It also goes in depth about how people can now use facial recognition software to find out almost anything about you. This is because your face is tied to all the accounts you use. For example, the facial scanner with use your face, and find Facebook accounts matching your identity. Then it will know about where you live, the things you eat, and what your hobbies are. The speaker mainly relates your online presence to a tattoo. It is completely permanent and it will be with you for the rest of your life. You should also expect that people will be able to see your tattoos, as well as form their own opinions on them. This analogy is a great way to explain the importance of staying safe while using social media of any type. 

In the second video, Catherine Crump talks about how the government actively uses automatic license plate scanners to track your daily life. Cameras are attached to stop lights, traffic signs, and even police cruisers. With all the information they are able to gather about you, they are then able to figure out where you go on a regular basis. This means that the government will know where you get your groceries, if you go to church, and even how many kids you have. This is an extreme invasion of privacy, and more people should be educated on this topic. The government should be more open to the public about the data they are collecting form us. I believe that if the general public were to know about this occurring, there would be massive protests and strikes across the country. 

The third video is about the government and their ability to invade our privacy when it comes to phone calls, emails, and texts. Over a landline phone, the government can easily listen to all of our conversations as if they were the person we called. However, with smart phones, they can't do this. This is because modern day smart phones have layers and layers of encryption to help prevent this. Apple does not even have access to the text messages we send to each other. The purpose of this Ted Talk is to educate people of the fact that the government is pushing for the ability to listen to our conversations. They claim they want this power so that they can catch criminals and prevent crime. However, not everyone is a criminal, so it is not fair to the law-abiding citizens. Also, the general public does not want the government to have access to our private messages. 

In the fourth video, Darieth Chisolm tells a story about a horrible period of her life, where her ex-boyfriend got revenge. He had taken explicit photos of her while she was sleeping and posted them on a website with the purpose of humiliating her. Obviously, Chisolm was devastated, as well as filled with anxiety and anger. This story should be used as an example to show others why you should never take explicit photos and videos of yourself. You should also never consent to anything if you feel even slightly uncomfortable. In her case, she had to deal with an extremely toxic and abusive boyfriend. If you are ever put in that situation, it is crucial that you seek help immediately.