The Categorization of Data: LJ2

Upon examination of the article, I left feeling with one word “huh.” Not in the

the traditional sense of questioning, but more of an “oh okay then.” You see, media outlets have been discussing the “invasion” of privacy by sites like Facebook and Google for years. So I already had knowledge of the categorization and selling of my data. But, this negative labeling calls into question the perceived ethics of the subject matter. Is it okay for companies to gather and sell our data? The article argues “It is our data that is being watched, not our selves” (Cheney-Lippold, 2019). I agree with the sentiment of separation between data and self. While the article goes into the specific policies of EU law and Google’s categorization of fame, it also explains that the data can’t be traced to the individual. Since the data can’t be traced back to me as an individual or affect me negatively, I don’t see it as an invasion of privacy. When one signs up for social media, one is opening up their life for examination. This is just one consequence of that. Moreover, the only way this may hurt an individual is through the knowledge of it. As explained in the article, “In a diagram of web surveillance, we encounter the metaphor of ‘one-way mirrors,’ in which Internet users remain ignorant of how their data is used while site owners are privileged with near-universal access to that data” (Cheney-Lippold, 2019). If one is to remain ignorant of it, one will not feel any negative consequences. You are the one agreeing to the terms and conditions and using the site. Thus, I see it as ethically acceptable. It is an incredibly personal issue ‌depending on your viewpoint as the act of gathering data may or may not matter. However, in my case, it does not affect my use of social media. The only exception to this may be a slight negative bias towards Facebook which is often perceived as the worst of the bunch. It is similar to Instagram but with more personal details. Personally, I just avoid it since I don’t see the point in having one for myself as scrolling through profiles is something I can do elsewhere. On the other hand, in a professional capacity, my use of social media is very limited. I have managed Instagram for organizations before but not much past that. Nonetheless, I do change my behavior due to the possibility of a potential employer looking at my social media. There are social media for employees and employers such as LinkedIn where one may share information that they don’t elsewhere such as their high school, university, and current workplace. I would not share this information anywhere else in case of any security threats. All in all, the article has shown me a more nuanced version of the headlines that have been trending in recent years.

References

Cheney-Lippold, J. (2019). We are data: Algorithms and the Making of our Digital Selves (pp.9–13). Preface, New York University Press.

Cheney-Lippold, J. (2019). We are data: Algorithms and the Making of our Digital Selves (pp. 3–36). Introduction, New York University Press.