Interconnectivty is one of the cornerstones of the convenience and ease of use that characterize mobile apps and mobile devices. However, this characteristic also enables a less savoury aspect of this technology, the so-called surveillance economy. Close monitoring of inter-device/app communication that was ongoing in a typical home, uncovered a huge amount of metadata being collected and transmitted to the manufacturers including intimate details of daily family life. A smart phone was found to be mining data on brushing habits, which were being sold to dental insurance companies while at the same time the TV monitored viewing habits.
The reality is that our smart devices are spying on us 24/7 and the more ubiquitous the internet of things, becomes the less privacy we will have. This is a Faustian bargain that we have accepted but, if pushed to its logical conclusion, can we really accept the consequences? In another study, researchers found that data on the usage of sex toys was being recorded: when devices where used, for how long, what temperature they reached, what the settings where and so on. Where do we draw the line and when we have, how can we enforce it?
We are somewhat in the middle here. Our personal data is being collected more and more. Sometimes knowingly and other times, as you mention, unsuspectingly. What if we look at the extremes?
What if data/information was not allowed to be collected at all? What would the implications be on on industry and innovation?
What if personal data was monetized? Apparently there are ways to do this beyond today’s current barter and trade system of the “free” app and now, even the paid product. We give our information in exchange for access and other information, experiences or connections.
Finally on the far side of the spectrum. What if we were able to create a world where personal information and data was made completely public to everything and everyone? We knew we were being watched but for the greater good. I could see yours and you could see mine. (Insert cringe). Could we design a society that was only able to use this information for good? Would it level out bias, judgement and spark more innovation? If it had no power, it couldn’t be used maliciously. Utopian? Yes, but what if, and how?
Hi Ryan, that’s the “nuclear option” isn’t it? If all our data is out there for everyone to see and use then no one agent, in theory, has any more leverage than any other. There are two observations I’d make about that. The first is that I’m not at all sure human psychology (and frankly behaviour) is designed for that degree of openness. Second, this scenario is just too Orwellian. In ETEC 531 we’ve been looking at the consequences of the exploitation and mining of big data and one thing is clear: data is an object and an object whose production and use interests those who exercise power. (Bigo, D., Isin, E. F., & Ruppert, E. S. (2019). Data politics: Worlds, subjects, rights. Routledge. (Chapter 1: Data Politics, pp. 1-17)