Week 11 Storm

 Privacy is Dying

I have always been skeptical about putting personal information online, as well as conscious about the risks involved with sharing my life with the world. Recently, Google is being sued for 5 billion dollars for tracking and taking "potentially embarrassing" information while its user was in incognito mode. According to Ethan Baron, "Google continues to track, collect, and identify their browsing data in real time, in contravention of federal and state laws on wiretapping and in violation of consumers' rights to privacy," (Baron). Obviously, this is  terrifying and fear-inducing for the millions of people that use Google chrome, having their every click tracked and site visited stored away on a computer somewhere. In addition, the level of invasion is equivalent to having one's home invaded, trashed, and completely robbed. Google chrome itself my not store your activity, but its ad manager and analytics will track what you do. Then, this information is sent to third-parties, which defeats the point of incognito mode! Companies can still send you targeted ads using the information given, which to me is absolutely horrifying, having a company know exactly what a like and predict what I will want in the future. My hope is that Google is forced to pay the 5 billion dollars and spark greater public interest in maintaining strict online privacy rules. 

The main video that struck me was the video about revenge porn. Darieth Chisolm points out shockingly that there are only 40 states that recognize revenge porn and treat it as a misdemeanor, or around $500 fines. This charge equates ruining a person's life and mental health to $500. Similarly, in order for Chisolm to get her justice, she had to navigate the confusing, loophole-filled, long, and expensive journey in the court. The process is unfair for anyone to have to go through while their lives are being stripped away from them. To add on to this theme of fear, the DMCA cannot strike down nude photos that another party placed online of you due to, "non-compliant and non-responsive third-party companies," (Chisolm). Instead, one must have their privacy invaded further in order to gain the hope for justice done upon you. The majority of people do not have the time, money, or strength to go through this process. We need reform for revenge porn and online stalking that enables the victim to take control of their life instantly, as well as punishing the perpetrator harshly for their criminal action.