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I've come to believe that privacy "by design" is impossible in the hyper-connected age. There are too many vectors for tracking, linking, and de-anonymization a
by api 8y ago
I've come to believe that privacy "by design" is impossible in the hyper-connected age. There are too many vectors for tracking, linking, and de-anonymization and software in general is too insecure.
The only solution to the privacy problem is legislation. My favorite idea is HIPAA type regulations for intimate personal data like audio, location, etc. Leak location data? That will be $10,000 per incident where an incident is one record per person on a given day.
This would transform data like this into a liability rather than an asset, pushing companies to store it only long enough to perform a given service and to develop cryptographically blinded systems whenever possible to cut exposure.
As it stands all the economic incentives encourage all vendors (even small indy apps) to maximize privacy invasion at every opportunity.
- mc32 8y agoI usually come down on the libertarian side of things, but given the virtual monopoly by way of network effects, I do think some legislation for user derived data is necessary. These folk are not going to self regulate and waive potential revenue if they are not made to. I’d go so far as declare them “near utilities”.
- JumpCrisscross 8y ago> I’d go so far as declare them “near utilities” Plastic surgeons are bound by HIPAA. They do not provide essential services. Similarly, we can regulate social networks without ensconcing them into our society’s fabric as utilities.
- mc32 8y agoInterestingly, though I’m loath to insinuate they are an authority on anything, the UN has declared Internet access and access to information and dissemination a basic human right. “[The UN] condemns unequivocally measures to intentionally prevent or disrupt access to or dissemination of information online”. It appears they believe it’s close to being a utility, and I’d argue in a way it has become close enough to need oversight as such.
- JumpCrisscross 8y ago> the UN has declared Internet access and access to information and dissemination a basic human right ISPs are a utility. Facebook is not.
- xg15 8y agoHow about Google?
- JumpCrisscross 8y agoNo. Utilities deliver commodities. Also, if Google Search fails, there are replacements available. The commodity factor is important because it allows for fragmentation. That controls the power balance between the utilities (important: plural) and the public as a whole.
- mc32 8y agoThey are a utility insofar as social graph is concerned.
- superkuh 8y agoNope. Just chose to not use services that suck yourself. It's easy. You can say you peer group or whatever uses them but it is still your choice. I strongly oppose your suggestion to bring in the government use of violence to impose your ideological goals on others. They have to chose for themselves.
- toufiqbarhamov 8y agoNope. Just chose to not use services that suck yourself. It's easy. Ok let’s test your hypothesis. Camera noise Right, I’m tagging you in this group photo and uploading it. Where’s your choice now?
- superkuh 8y agoI don't see the problem. It sounds like I'm in a public setting. If not and this is some friend group gathering I could just ask you not to since we're friends. My friends and family that use facebook know not to include me. But even if they do, so what? It's not like a single photo of me uploaded by a friend impacts my privacy.
- barrkel 8y agoIt sounds like I'm in a public setting There's a difference between being a random bystander in an individual's photo and mass surveillance of the public space through millions of photos. Just like lots of photos become something else - movies - lots of photos of public spaces become something else - a surveillance state. You're sitting on one principle and riding it to the point of absurdity. There are lots of other principles, like the right to live in a free society. Sometimes freedom requires lack of freedom - sometimes we have to apprehend criminals. You can't ride this principle all the way without taking off your blindfold.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- imgabe 8y agoYou can't tag someone in a photo if they're not on Facebook.
- paulcole 8y agoLook up how rarely HIPAA violations result in fines. Since 1996 when enacted the sum of fines is something like $78 million— and almost entirely to huge insurance companies and university hospitals. Just barely slaps on the wrist.
- miguelrochefort 8y agoI agree with you that privacy is impossible by design. You're free to take the precautions you deem necessary to prevent others from accessing information you want to keep to yourself. I will defend your right to not be coerced into producing information against you will, but I can't help you once the information is out. I don't think it's reasonable to expect to be able to stop the collection, analysis, and distribution of data. I don't think you can reliably track the source of all data either, which makes the fine you suggest very difficult to implement. What if an individual collects and distributes the private information of thousands of people (which I don't think should be very difficult)? Are they expected to be able to afford such a fine? Who does the fine help? I think the best approach for most people is to try to act as if they're always being watched.
- api 8y agoYour last sentence is total capitulation to a dystopia. The psychological effect of knowing you're always being watched could mean the end of any cultural or social innovation.