Blog Post #5

Privacy Isn’t Dead—But It’s on Life Support

As a 20-year-old female college student who is from the West Coast, now living in the Southeast, these issues with digital privacy and online safety hit very close to home. As technology is such a vital part of our world, these issues are more real than ever—whether that's from the police tracking our license plates, our phones making us more vulnerable to surveillance, or the damage of revenge porn. There was one common theme that was made very clear: our privacy is constantly at risk, and the majority of people don't even realize how at risk we are.

Phone Surveillance

Christopher Soghoian’s talk about phone surveillance shocked me to find out how easy it is for the government and even foreign powers to be able to listen in on our phone calls, as he explained that it's all because of how phone networks are built. This hits very close to home for me, as I call home every day, whether that's FaceTime or phone calls with my mom and grandparents, some of which contain very personal information. So, to think that those conversations are being monitored without my knowledge is mind-boggling. Soghoian made it very clear in his speech that our phones are probably the most vulnerable point in digital security.

License Plate Readers

In Catherine Crump's talk, she mentioned that something as simple as driving around can lead to our movements being tracked without our knowledge. As the police can scan our license plates using ALPRs, which is a license plate reader, it made me think of all those times I’ve driven to work or to get groceries—those moments can be used to build a profile on me. Thinking that this goes for every citizen, that we are constantly being monitored with no clue it's happening, is unsettling. As a young woman in a different state, completely on my own, this is very unnerving. This shouldn’t be something we are doing to everyday citizens, as much as we should be using it for criminals who need to be arrested or illegal immigrants. But using this on people who are going to and from work just to support their families, or on young girls and guys who are just going to and from school—this shouldn’t be happening. It’s very unnerving to know that law enforcement does this.

Revenge Porn

Then there is Darieth Chisolm’s talk about revenge porn, which was eye-opening and heartbreaking as she was put in a horrible situation where she was taken advantage of during an intimate moment that she did not previously consent to, which almost ruined her life. It made me sad for all of the women who are put in so many tough situations that are humiliating and degrading. These issues affect everyone I know—from friends, family, to classmates. All of us live lives based on the internet. We use our phones to share photos by posting them, and we share our opinions, even though we sometimes don't think twice before sharing them online. But to think that someone could use very private images of me or the people I love to try and harm me is frightening. Things like revenge porn don’t just destroy the reputation of the victim; they can lead to so many other issues, like trauma, bullying, and sometimes legal battles that won’t get solved until multiple years later, when it’s sometimes too late. Chisolm’s talk just reminded me of how scary the internet can be for women, especially as we are more likely to be targets of this type of exploitation.

The Broader Impact

These issues affect me, my family, and friends, as most of us are on social media and are chronically on our phones. We post pictures, share our personal experiences, and make connections online without always thinking about what the consequences could be. I shouldn't have to be worried about being tracked, what I should say on a phone call, or be scared of what might happen every time I post a photo online. I believe the government should take a stronger stance on this to protect our privacy and safety as individuals. First, I think we should have better laws around revenge porn, with consequences for the perpetrators and more support for the victims. I also think ALPRs should have stricter regulations and boundaries, as I think people should be aware that their data is being stored or tracked. Additionally, tech companies should be held accountable for what they are doing with our data, meaning they should have better encryption and privacy policies in their systems by default.

Taking Action

Although this does not just fall on tech companies or the government, as individuals, we have to do our part as well and take control of what we can. This means using apps with end-to-end encryption, such as Signal or WhatsApp, which are apps that make it much harder for communication to be intercepted. We also need to be smarter with what we post and how we manage our privacy settings. We also need to make sure to bring awareness to the people we love and also younger generations about digital exposure, the risks that come with it, and how they can protect themselves from digital exposure and take steps to minimize this.

Conclusion

The reality of this all is that we cannot control every aspect of our online lives. But there are things we can do to be safer, smarter, and more aware of our privacy. Our digital lives are like a permanent tattoo; no matter how hard you try to get rid of it, you can't always get rid of every single part of it. So, we need to stay informed and be aware of what we put out online, as well as offer support to anyone who has faced a hardship due to their online presence. We need to protect our privacy not only for ourselves but for the generations to come after us, as privacy is a luxury, and we must do everything we can to protect it. As our privacy is not dead, it's just on life support!