The internet rules our world in more ways than we actually realize. Be it seeking friends, venting emotions or seeking juicy deals on purchases, the internet is where we all turn to. However, what we don’t realize is that more than us exploiting the web world for our various uses, it is the web that maneuvers our actions and responses in more ways than one. And one of the ways in which it is being expressed is the way in which we underestimate web privacy.
Take a situation where you come across a lip smacking deal online that asks you to share your email id, date of birth and similar details in order to “register” for the deal. Would you even think twice before sharing such confidential information on just about any platform? Well, I think not. Most of us would blindly share information without pondering on the level of security offered by the platform and this is where our privacy is likely to be jeopardized.
A series of interesting and provocative experiments have been carried out by Alessandro Acquisti, a behavioral economist at the Carnegie Mellon University. Acquisti has indeed gone on to prove that when it comes to web privacy, we are increasingly inconsistent. Pioneering in this domain of study, Acquisti has several interesting studies to his credit that are both unsettling as well interesting at the same time.
In a 2011 study, he actually went on to prove that certain parts of one’s social security number can be deduced from a simple photograph of the person that has been posted online! Currently, he is carrying out research for establishing how social networks can enable employers to discriminate among potential candidates during hiring. And all his studies are aimed at establishing the dangers associated with underestimating web privacy.
Acquisti argues that in order to comprehend the term “privacy” more clearly, it will be essential to comprehend human behavior. He claims that although the technologist in him is marveled by the amazing achievements of the internet, the human in him remains concerned about the relentless hijacking of technology, transforming it from a technology meant for freedom to a technology meant for surveillance.
According to me, the problem here seems to be that our present generation continues to live in absolute awe of the marvels of technology. We are so busy trying to reap its benefits that privacy concerns have clearly taken a backseat. It is time to wake up and take web privacy seriously before you fall prey to the numerous unscrupulous elements online.
Follow