L11: Privacy
L11: Reflection
This lesson really made me think about how much important information is out there and how easy it can be for the wrong people to get it. Personal stuff like bank accounts, addresses, and even private conversations can be accessed if you’re not careful. A lot of times, people don’t even realize how much they’re giving away just by being online.
We also went over ways to protect personal information. Things like using strong passwords, setting up two-factor authentication, and being careful about what you share on social media are all simple but important steps. It made me realize that small habits, like checking privacy settings and not clicking on random links, can make a big difference in keeping my information safe.
L11: What do Companies Know About You
1.When you use apps like Facebook or Snapchat you give away your name, location history, address, birthday, family history and preferences. This create a metaphysical map of you.
2.Normal stuff like name, birthday, address, email.
3.I google myself and found my name, previous address, family connections, and phone number. I knew for a long time that my information is on the net and I’m fine with leaving it there cause it’s pretty old. Just my name give me everything.
4.No additional information mainly because since then I’ve stop using social media and I move around way too much to be tracked. Some of the information was false mainly due to aliases I’ve had in my life. I tried Whitepages and zabasearch. There are several paid subscriptions you can do to remove yourself from all the sites.
L11: Database Technology and Privacy Issues Discussion
When looking at privacy we can see attempts to balance the benefits and drawbacks of database technology with consumer privacy when we look at Europe General Data Protection Regulation, the California Consumer Privacy Act, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA). All of these regulations are mandating transparency and protection when it comes to consumer privacy. Privacy regulation, such as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), represents attempts to balance the benefits of database technology with the need to protect personal privacy. These regulations mandate transparency in data collection and give individuals greater control over their personal information.
In the United States, privacy protection remains fragmented, with no comprehensive federal privacy law protecting consumers from commercial entities’ data practices. While private information is generally protected from government intrusion as a fundamental right, protection from commercial entities is not established as such. As Landau and Vargas Leon note in their Colorado Technology Law Journal article, “The Federal Trade Commission can act against industry unfair and deceptive practices, which can include use and abuse of private information, but its power and enforcement capability is limited” (Landau & Vargas Leon, 2023). Their research also highlights how federal laws have “largely ignored privacy protections for metadata and telemetry,” with only five states having enacted laws regulating non-content data use, primarily focusing on location information.
The authors advocate for a comprehensive federal privacy law in the United States that would establish baseline privacy protections for consumers across all sectors.Landau and Vargas suggest that this law should specifically address metadata and telemetry data collection, which are currently unregulated. Their proposed solution emphasizes that privacy regulations should be technology-neutral but be specific, focusing on how data is used rather than the specific technology collecting it. This approach would help regulations remain relevant as technologies evolve. This approach would in principle be similar to Europe GDPR and the USA should take note on how that law was implemented. In addition, Landau and Vargas Leon recommend creating stronger enforcement mechanisms with real consequences for violations, enhancing transparency requirements so consumers understand how their data is being used, and implementing data minimization principles to limit collection to what is necessary for specific purposes. The authors also stress the importance of international cooperation and harmonization of privacy standards, given the global nature of digital services and data flows.
Landau, S., & Vargas Leon, P. (2023). Location data, Dobbs, and the rule of law. Colorado Technology Law Journal, 21(2). https://ctlj.colorado.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/LL-Final-08.02.2023.pdf
