Week 11: Privacy, Online & Off

    Over the decades we are able to see a dramatic change in the advances in technology in society. It has made a big difference in society in how we communicate and respond to the outside world. However, the advances in surveillance within the past years start to become an issue of privacy for citizens. It is important that individuals understand that there are certain policies and regulations that need to be held in order to ensure the safety of others. Surveillance cameras are put in place in public places to ensure that any criminal actions can be easily tracked down and taken care of by authorities. Where people draw the line is when every personal detail about ourselves is recorded and analyzed without any individual consent. 

    One of the biggest privacy violations today that have people disturbed and uncomfortable, is internet surveillance. Internet users are being tracked for every click and search on the computer. The technology is then able to analyze this personal information about you and then give you relevant content based on your searches. This is commonly seen in online retail where individuals will search for a certain garment, and they will later find that same or similar garment on another platform like Instagram and Facebook. As creepy as this is, a lot of companies rely on this method to track what customers are looking for and to market products. With these issues of privacy amongst surveillance and other technologies, people question the ethical decisions placed in society. I believe that there is room for growth in adopting a system that will protect and assist citizens as well as ensuring privacy and confidentiality.