“When you go to Google and type, \”climate change is,\” you’re going to see different results depending on where you live and the things Google knows about your interests. That’s not by accident, that’s a design.” (The Social Dilemma, 2020)
Google, once heralded as the gateway to knowledge, has now become a formidable force in shaping our online experiences. Every search, every click, every scroll – it all contributes to an intricate web of data, meticulously woven by algorithms that seem to know us better than we know ourselves. The very tools we use to satiate our intellectual curiosity are the same ones that betray our most intimate secrets. The concept of privacy, once as sacred as the ivory towers of academia, is now but a fleeting illusion in the wake of targeted advertisements and data breaches.
The world has long recognized the positive applications of social media, from its role in empowering protesters to speak out against oppression, to democratising access to information and knowledge, providing a platform for educational content and promoting lifelong learning on a global scale. However, the system that connects us also invisibly controls us.
Research suggests Facebook was able to affect real-world behaviour and emotions without ever triggering the users’ awareness. Data risk and privacy violations have transcended local bounds, becoming a worldwide threat. The Cambridge Analytica case exemplifies how a breach of data from millions of Facebook users harmed not only individuals locally, but had far-reaching global ramifications. Moreover, the Marriott incident in 2018 is a testimony to the severity of lax data security. The breach exposed sensitive data of millions, including passport numbers, hence underscoring how negligence can result in significant ramifications, ranging from financial losses to identity theft. It prompts us to ponder whether we, as users, are cognizant of the malpractices being executed in the name of \”interactions\” on digital platforms.
Furthermore, the commodification of personal data has led to the rise of an economy where our attention and preferences are the primary currency. Companies like Google and Facebook thrive on the ability to predict and influence our behaviour, creating echo chambers that reinforce our existing beliefs and biases. This manipulation of information flows can contribute to social polarisation and undermine the collective understanding of truth. The spread of misinformation and fake news, amplified by these algorithms, poses a significant challenge to informed public discourse and decision-making.
Therefore, while technological advancements drive progress, they also beckon a necessary evil – the ever-looming threat of data insecurity.
