Web Surveillance

 Cybercrime, Cyberspace, Data Collection, Hackers, Internet Freedoms, Open Internet, Privacy, Surveillance, Web surveillance  No Responses »
May 212012
 

It is becoming increasingly possible that individuals will have their web history logged under the disguise of law enforcement purposes.  A couple of weeks ago the Attorney-General Nicola Roxon announced “new plans to review national security legislation to ensure our national security capability can evolve to meet emerging threats, while also delivering the right checks and balances for a civil society.”

Potential reforms are to be considered by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security considering the potential reforms through public consultation and hearings. Read more here “Web Snooping Plan A Step Closer to Reality”.

Is this an issue that concerns individuals?  Web monitoring differs from Internet filtering as rather than blocking access to sites; it retains a record of web sites visited by the user.  Although we are in reality a fair way from web surveillance, potentially this could mean that any device connected to the Internet could soon have its web history logged and retained by telecommunications companies.

Web surveillance is something more and more governments around the world are increasingly trying to implement in some way.  In the UK, the Coalition Government is looking at proposals to monitor email and social media raising a number of concerns – “Internet Companies Warn over Government Email Surveillance Plans”. Further with the Olympic Games approaching in London, a vast security presence will be in force.

Governments may have legitimate law enforcement reasons in terms of solving crimes, terrorists, organised criminals who threaten national security and protecting the public, however, it is increasingly becoming an accepted part of society. It raises a number of issues in respect to privacy, data access and protection. It also gives the impression that citizens are all potential criminal suspects who need to monitored.  National security now seems to be used regularly to convince society that governments needs to extend the State’s powers to protect them.  However, does this actually create a safer society, or one that is completely paranoid that it has to keep tabs on its citizens?

Thanks for reading!

Feel free to ‘tweet’ or ‘repost’ this article or leave your comments….

 Posted by on 21 May, 2012 at 11:33 am

Do People still Trust Google?

 Data Collection, Internet Freedoms, Open Internet, Privacy, Search Engines, Surveillance  No Responses »
May 152012
 

A couple of weeks ago a Federal Communication Commission Report was released on Google’s Street View Program. It was a fairly damning report that raised a number of questions in respect to whether Google’s snooping was a lone case or an intentional corporate strategy.  For a summary of the account, have a read of this article, “Is it time to stop trusting Google?”

Google claims it was a rogue engineer and they had no knowledge of his activities.  I find it challenging to believe that Google had no idea what was happening and it is all very convenient to blame one engineer.  However, should it be given the benefit of the doubt?  This time probably yes, although it is now on notice.

On a bigger scale, is this important?  Some argue that if there is no harm perpetrated, it doesn’t really matter if Google collects data?  I disagree with these sentiments.  As a company that manages so much personal data, it matters how Google and others collect information and whether they inform the public.  As the knowledge economy becomes more entrenched, personal data is crucial.  It is one thing to consent to your data being collected and used; it is another to collect data without the recipient’s consent or knowledge.  This needs to be a transparent and open process so that users can make informed choices.

It is also too simple to place all the blame with companies like Google.  The user needs to take responsibility as well and take precautions where possible with new technologies.  Users need to be proactive and stop blaming huge companies.  The Internet is a public space.  Any information that is uploaded onto the net should be considered ‘public’ and ‘accessible’ regardless of the precautions taken.  That is why when you share information be careful with your personal information.  If you choose to share this information, then you do so at your risk.

Thanks for reading!

Feel free to ‘tweet’ or ‘repost’ this article or leave your comments….

 Posted by on 15 May, 2012 at 4:31 pm

Internet Tracking Debate

 Data Collection, Internet, Online Identity, Privacy, Surveillance  No Responses »
Jan 242012
 

I’m back after the summer break and hoping to bring you some interesting thoughts this year on the current issues of the Internet, starting with Internet tracking.

It seems that Internet users are becoming savvier about covering their tracks while online.  It is common place for users to be tracked anonymously as they visit websites.  The tracking follows you from one website to another compiling information about you which is stored for what purpose who really knows.  More people are using technology that allows them to keep track of who is following them.  This gives users a sense of control.  Read more in the following article: “More Net Users Covering Their Tracks”.

Some of the tracking software being used (which is free to download) includes Ghostery and Adblock who are also increasing their usage.

More and more people are becoming increasingly uncomfortable knowing they are being tracked and that information is being collected and stored about them.  Companies say it is so they can send tailored personal advertisements, however, the issue of consent is the real key.  Even though there is no identifying information to the data they collect, do companies have the right to track you without you knowing they are doing it, what information they are collecting and how they are storing the data?  These are all extremely important questions as we grapple with modern communications.

Further, there are issues on the way companies’ link the shared information which potentially could allow users to become identifiable and disclosure policies which are unclear and not easily visible.

No one knows what will happen to this data in the years to come.  More clarity is needed so that users have a choice whether to be tracked or not.  What do you think?

 Posted by on 24 January, 2012 at 2:24 pm

Facial Recognition: is this Total Surveillance?

 Internet, Privacy, Surveillance, Technology shifts  No Responses »
Nov 242011
 

 There was a great article in yesterday’s The Age, Facial Recognition: The Case for and against ‘Total Surveillance’.

Facial recognition technology is about to become the most significant technology that we have seen for a long time.  It is state of the art in terms of recognising and identifying people and this will be particularly useful when it comes to crime, airport security and so on.  The person being identified won’t know they are being watched as the technology doesn’t require the person looking into a camera.

This may all go well for criminal issues but how about the average person who has never done anything wrong in their life?  Unlike other forms of recognition or identifiers, the additional aspect of face recognition means that it forms a biometric identifier which cannot be undone if your face has been hacked.  This raises serious issues in terms of privacy and identity issues.

Have a read of the article which states the ‘for’ and ‘against’ arguments and let me know what your thoughts are.

 Posted by on 24 November, 2011 at 4:15 pm

Online Data Collection and Privacy

 Data Collection, Internet, Online Marketing, Privacy, Surveillance  No Responses »
Oct 172011
 

 

Today, online tracking technologies are so sophisticated that the amount of information they collect could be considered Orwellian.  Numerous amounts of data is collected on an individual’s browsing habits.  This may be combined with other information gathered from public records or social networks sites to build customer profiles.  A great blog article provides more information: ‘Online Privacy Concerns with Data Collection’.

There may be legitimate reasons for companies wanting to collect data.  They want to gain a competitive edge and being able to use this customer information for selective purposes is to a degree not surprising.  However, the key issue is that most consumers on the Internet may have no idea what information is being collected or by whom and whether this is passed on to third parties.

The debate of online data collection versus privacy concerns is a fairly complex one.  The technology is here to stay and is part of business innovation.  Users have embraced and adopted the technology openly and positively.  However, is the balance geared towards the benefit of businesses?  Due to the sophistication of the technology and the introduction of location-based information, companies are able to fairly accurately pinpoint a user’s real time physical location.  Historically, identifiable information was considered protected information when it came to privacy.

There are some individuals who don’t care but for those that do they need to be able to have choices.  Individuals need to have a say in when sensitive and personally identifiable information is collected and shared.  Policy makers need to be active in this debate to allow consumers more control over their data particularly data that makes them identifiable.

Consumers need to have the option to withdraw if they do not what to participate in online data collection, for example similar to the ‘do not call register’.  The privacy statements, which do exist, are usually hidden away and if individuals do bother reading them they are far too complicated.  There needs to be visible and transparent statements if online data is being collected, why it is being collected and what will be done with it.  This way consumers can make an informed choice whether they want to take part or not.  A rebalance with individuals having more say in what is collected about them needs to occur.

I would be interested to hear what you think.

Are you concerned that your information is being tracked or is this the reality of the current world we now live in?

 Posted by on 17 October, 2011 at 5:26 pm

Facebook

 Cyberspace, Data Collection, Internet, Privacy, Surveillance  No Responses »
Oct 112011
 

Facebook has been in the news quite a lot lately.  Whether it be ‘tracking cookies claims’ or a story on ‘Facebook’s power’ they seem to be the story of the moment.

There is no doubt that Facebook is a powerful organisation.  It knows a lot about us.  It collects and stores massive amounts of data on the daily interests and behaviour of its users.  Obviously there are concerns with Facebook.  However, the way some people talk about them, you think that they are forcing us to give up our information.  They are not.  It is information that we willingly and easily give up without thinking twice about it.  Whether this is a good or a bad thing is up for debate, although some people think it is negative.

Privacy in the 21st century is being fractured.  Walk along most CBD streets and you will be filmed through CCTV; use an ATM and you leave an electronic footprint; connect to the Internet and you leave another footprint.  Each action creates a link to your electronic profile.  Use your Woolworths Everyday Rewards card when you shop and information on what you buy, when you buy and how much you spend is stored.  No one is up and arms about this information being collected.  Why is this the case?  What is it about Facebook that creates so much negativity and moral panic?

The privacy debate is a complex issue.  However, I must say I am more concerned with organisations that store my personal information that I don’t know about.  With Facebook, at least I have a choice not to participate or control the information I post.

 

What are your thoughts?

 Posted by on 11 October, 2011 at 11:52 am

Internet Companies Increasingly Handing over Data to Law Enforcement Agencies

 Data Collection, Privacy, Surveillance  3 Responses »
Oct 062011
 

In a recent post I discussed the issue of privacy and social media and whether privacy was being fractured in the social media space and the Internet in general.

Another interesting subject is data collection by Internet Companies such as Google and Twitter.  These Internet companies hold massive amounts of user information and its business models depend on collecting information so that they sell targeted advertising.  So it is not surprising that when governments come calling, these companies oblige as a recent article Web Firms Data Proves Irresistible To Law Enforcers points out. It is understandable why governments would be interested in obtaining these sources of information but should Internet companies hand over users’ information so readily?

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING

The recent British riots and the alleged use of social network sites to coordinate the riots shows how vulnerable users have becomes in terms of having control over their personal information.  There is no doubt that when crimes have been committed handing over of data is a logical thing to do.  But what about other instances?

More and more we are seeing the balance between private and public becoming more geared towards the public side and users are left with eroding rights.  In this electronic age of communication, is this a fair equation?  Or should users be afforded more protections?

I would love to hear your thought and opinions on the subject

 Posted by on 6 October, 2011 at 3:44 pm