Month: October 2010

Yesterday, I happened to stumble upon two news articles regarding privacy and multi-million/billion dollar empires.

Apparently, both Google and Facebook (quite possibly the rulers of the world wide web) have broken federal law with their respective creative ventures.

Google’s popular “Street View” feature that was introduced to Google Maps 3 years ago has seemingly collected highly sensitive and personal information of Canadian citizens’ (such as email addresses, usernames, passwords) using their Camera Car specially equipped with a code that could detect unsecured wireless networks and information shared over those networks.

Privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart stated in a news release,
“The impact of new and rapidly evolving technologies on modern life is undeniably exciting. However, the consequences for people can be grave if the potential privacy implications aren’t properly considered at the development stage of these new technologies.”



Conversely, Facebook is being pressured by members of the U.S. Congress to tighten its privacy agreement with its app and game partners (such as Farmville and Texas HoldEm Poker) after the Wall Street Journal revealed its investigation findings on Monday. It was discovered that these app partners were obtaining Facebook users “Facebook IDs”, which linked to not only an affected individual’s Facebook page, but to their friends’ as well.

One Twitter user commented:
“It bothers me that if my FB friends play w/ Apps MY privacy is affected. I’m penalized for having stupid friends.”

So how is privacy an ethical issue?

To be continued…

I went to the Canucks Opening Night game tonight, and although we ended the night with only 1 point, I left satisfied.

Rooting for Henrik Sedin to be named captain since Luongo relinquished his captaincy on September 13th, I highly anticipated the announcement of the new Captain Canuck for tonight’s game.  I could barely keep my excitement in check as the pre-game ceremony introduced the original Canucks captain Orland Kurtenbach and finally announced that the 2009-2010 season Hart and Art Ross trophy winner would wear the C on his new, 40th anniversary jersey.

Coming home to write a blog, I thought about how I could link my experience tonight to a class concept.  I contemplated the role a hockey team captain plays and whether such a title really made a difference in the team dynamic.  I came to the conclusion that naming 30 year old Henrik Sedin as the new Canucks captain is most certainly a strategy of GM Mike Gillis and Coach Alain Vigneault.  The league MVP may seem quiet and unintimidating, but is a proven leader and is obviously respected in the locker room.  I truly believe that Henrik Sedin will guide the Canucks to their first Stanley Cup, and thereby changing the entirety of Vancouver Canucks history.

Even Trevor Linden, former “Captain Canuck” responded without hestitation “Henrik.” to the “Who should be captain” question…who would know better what qualities a captain must possess?

EDIT: Not to be a total “I-told-you-so” phrase over-user, but the Canucks was the first NHL team to clinch a playoff spot and was also crowned Northwest Division Champions after their win over the Colorado Avalanches last week. We are truly making our way towards the Stanley Cup finely. Trivial fact you may not have known: every time a Canadian city hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the Stanley Cup championship immediately following was hoisted by the Canadian team (at the away game too). I don’t want to be held responsible for jinxing the boys, but I have a great feeling that Stanley Cup fever in Vancouver will last until much after my birthday this year.
(March, 2011).

I find it interesting that at the same time as Facebook’s dramatic film The Social Network is released, the documentary Catfish is also hitting theatres.

The Social Network, a film by acclaimed director David Fincher (of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button fame) was written by four time Emmy award winner Aaron Sorkin.  It reveals the severe effects of immediate success and fame on a group of college students through the start-up of Facebook.

“The themes of the movie are as old as storytelling itself: loyalty, friendship, power, money, envy, social status, jealousy,” says Sorkin in an interview with Telegraph (UK).

Catfish, on the other hand, is a documentary filmed by Ariel Schuman where he follows his brother Nev on a roadtrip to find the girl he fell in love with over Facebook.

The exhilarating documentary easily justifies concerns over privacy settings on Facebook.

“You’ve got to protect yourself,” said Schulman. “Everyone has different intentions.”

Privacy isn’t Facebook’s only downfall. Controversy over bans from certain countries and even pedophile threats have plagued Facebook’s track record.

So which side should we be buying?

All I know is that both the glamorous drama and the thrilling documentary stories highlight connections to Facebook that have resulted in life-changing experiences.

After today’s class on MIS, I began noticing that it was everywhere! On the bus, there were ads for all sorts of companies with websites, Facebook pages, and references to Twitter! When I arrived home at the end of the night, I logged into Facebook and noticed a friend’s photo upload…

A simple photo upload from his Blackberry gained 15 comments within an hour, discussing Monopoly, discussing McDonald’s, and of course, the recommended method of obtaining these Monopoly “coupons”.  These two brands, who have collaborated on multiple occasions in the past, are trying to use social media and the basic (but extremely powerful) word of mouth to increase awareness of not only this special offer, but of the return of McDonald’s annual Monopoly game. As I copied the picture and shared it with friends, I realized that I had become a promoter for both McDonald’s and Monopoly, without even the slightest intention of it.

It is staggering to me how advantageous it can be nowadays to upload something onto the World Wide Web, sit back, watch the hits, and reap the profits.  It reminds me of the video we saw today, and proves that social media is most definitely not a fad.