BLOG POST #5 Privacy On and Offline

     Privacy has become more and more alarming in the recent years. As technology increases, so has surveillance. Each of these TedTalks presents facts that become terrifying for American citizens. The government and internet sites are collecting our information more now than ever before, and there is practically no escape. 

    The internet is constantly collecting information about each and every one of us. Many of us are aware that a lot of our data is collected from our mobile devices. It's obvious when you look at a certain website shopping for a new pair of boots, and then an advertisement for new boots shows up on your Facebook an hour later. However many don't realize that with the recent advancements in facial recognition specifically, the government can obtain every single piece of information from your phone, including home addresses, search history, family history, and so much more, all from a simple picture of your face. 

    Many may think that this privacy issue doesn't affect them, but it affects every single person, every single day. The government can search every phone in a given house at any time with one click. This means that if the government wants to see who your parents are, they can figure that out and view their searches and information as well. The lack of internet privacy is affecting each and every person connected to you, including your friends and family. 

   
I understand why the government feels the need to collect certain information on individuals. It would be nearly impossible to search for criminals without their digital information. However, it is a very alarming feeling to know that the government could search anything and everything about you just for fun. I think that the government needs to have certain regulations for openi
ng certain data on indviduals, and there should be circumstances for it. Gathering information is one thing, using it in the wrong way is another. 

    In order to protect ourselves from privacy invasion, we need to start sharing less of our personal information. Providing minimal details about ourselves is the first step to creating a more private space for ourselves on the internet. There are certain things that the government just does not need to. know about us. You wouldn't go around giving your social security number to strangers on the street, so there is no need to provide it to wesbites. It is also important to stop allowing location services for each and every app on your phone. Location services are not crucial for many apps that we have downloaded, but for some reason we still click that "allow" button each and every time it pops up. We can also protect our own privacy by deleting unused apps and other softwares. If you are not using it, there is no reason to give the owners access to your information.

    There are so many ways to protect our privacy from the ever-evolving technologies that the government uses. For more information, the Aura website has a lot of good tips and tricks to stay safe and protected while still enjoying our favorite apps.