The Dilemma of Digital Footprints: Unveiling the Boundaries of Privacy and Public Interest
Digital Footprints
Have you ever stopped to think about how social media has transformed the very essence of human connection? In this digital world, social media has become integrated into our everyday lives, changing the way we connect with others. From the routine morning scroll on our feeds to the late-night ‘wind down’ just before bed.
The further we immerse ourselves in this digital world we must consider the digital footprint we leave behind. Now, online interactions are accessible to a much larger audience and can remain available for others to find and scrutinize.
This begs the question; do we have the right to be forgotten? The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) recognizes the right to have personal information removed from the internet. I believe we should have control over our online presence, as people can make mistakes just as we do in our everyday lives. However, this conflicts with freedom of expression, the very foundation that allows all individuals to share their opinion in online public debates whilst also ensuring that people in power are held accountable for their actions. If this ‘right to be forgotten’ is implemented, then the availability of online historical records will become limited. Does this not hinder this very freedom?
Have you ever stumbled upon an old social media post and just thought ‘Cringe’?
How do we distinguish between our present selves and our past online selves? Mhairi Black, the SNP Member of Parliament for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, was elected at the young age of 20, consequently, her pre-political social media interactions on Twitter have been available for the public eye. Among her tweets include swearing and typical teenage banter. So, should these past online interactions define and haunt her present and future self?
One student suggested that people should have the opportunity to demonstrate how their views, behaviours, and opinions have changed over time. I couldn’t agree more with this statement.
In this digital world, every comment, tweet and post may seem like an ominous presence, lurking in the shadows, ready to haunt our future selves. I believe that our online presence should reflect our journey of personal growth. After all, as human beings, we are constantly evolving as we understand more about the world. The study “Awareness of Digital Footprint Management in the New Media Amongst Youth” supports the idea that people’s online presence should reflect their growth by highlighting the importance of being responsible, managing digital footprints, and demonstrating evolving behaviours over time.
But hang on, it is important to acknowledge the limitations of this argument. In my opinion, hate speech and hurtful online behaviour should be accounted for, the perpetrators must be held responsible. The digital world should not serve as a platform for harming others or spreading negativity. An interesting research paper on the effects of hateful speech in online college communities found that online hate on college subreddits has a psychological impact on students, which further enforces the need for addressing this issue.
Privacy and Data Security in the Digital Age
When do you think the right to privacy becomes less important than the public’s right to know?
The Right to Privacy
People should have the right to have control over their personal information and how it is used, no? The infamous Ashley Madison breach, a Canadian dating site for ‘ bored men & lonely housewives’, is an example of a personal data violation which sparks an interesting debate. Private information about people engaging in extramarital affairs was stolen and threatened to be exposed. Whilst you may personally hold the belief that having an affair is morally wrong, it is important to recognize that it is not technically illegal.
Thus, we must carefully navigate the delicate balance between:
· Ethical implications
· Legal Boundaries
· Personal and societal morality
Ethical Implications
Whilst the main attraction seems to be the dating site users, I believe it is also vital to look at the dating site itself and the hackers who breached the security. From an ethical standpoint, unauthorized access to personal information is a violation of privacy, regardless of the wrongdoings of the individuals involved. A recent study finds that there is potential harm caused by the unauthorized disclosure of personal data and highlights the importance of data protection to protect individuals.
Legal boundaries
Engaging in extramarital affairs is not illegal, the breach itself however raised legal concerns related to unauthorized access, theft, and potential misuse of personal data. The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GPDR) clarifies the legal boundaries that govern personal information protection and privacy.
· Data protection
· Privacy laws
· User rights
Personal and societal morality
The Ashley Madison case makes me question how societal judgements and norms could influence our perspective on the right to privacy. So, to what extent do the public have the right to know?
The Public’s Right to Know
Whilst I agree that privacy is a right, platforms such as WikiLeaks play an interesting role in the belief of the public’s right to know, in which they access certain information for the greater good. The site provides information on issues of public concern, exposing corruption and abuse of power. In this instance, the public’s right to know is seen to be outweighing individual privacy concerns, as the information disclosed feeds the broader public interest. Interestingly a poll on ‘Is what WikiLeaks is doing …’ received 55.23% for ‘Right. The public has a right to know and governments need to be kept honest.’ And 44.77% for ‘Wrong. Some of the things it discloses put lives at risk.’
These statistics show how equal the division of public opinion is, further enforcing the complexity of this debate. Some people care more about the public’s right to know and the exposure of misconduct, and others’ privacy and the risks linked to unauthorized leaks.
To conclude
In this digital world, our digital footprint holds immense power and balancing privacy with the public’s right to know is a complex challenge. We must find a balance, protecting personal information whilst also holding individuals accountable for their actions. It is also crucial to ensure that our online presence reflects our personal growth. Together, we can shape a digital world that respects both privacy and transparency.
Reflection
Description and thoughts
I took this course in hopes to gain a better understanding of technology and the impact it has on the digital world. Recognizing my limited understanding of the subject and the continuous evolution of technology and its impact on my future, I found it crucial to expand my knowledge and develop new skills, such as blog posting. This course has not only helped me learn more about the digital world but also helped me develop my critical thinking skills. My thoughts before this course included the anticipation of a subject that is out of my comfort zone, however, the topics have been interesting, in particular ‘the individual, identity and ethics’ which I found thought-provoking of my online behaviour. The ‘digital engagement’ topic made me think about how I engage with brands and people whilst also being aware of the risks of data privacy.
Evaluation and analysis
My first assignment digisoc1 was eye-opening, the feedback gave helpful insight into where I went wrong, which I read thoroughly to learn from in my next assignment. I did not fill the brief and did not write critically, the formatting was also problematic as I did not use images of which I had permission. I took this feedback on board for Digisoc2 which resulted in a much better submission, I found the feedback helped me develop my skills to improve.
In my Digisoc1 assignment, I failed to assess the negative effects Depop had on the cost of second-hand clothing. Upon further research, I discovered an interesting article, ‘Is Depop Gentrifying Second-hand Shopping?’, whilst Depop offers opportunities for income generation and accessibility for some individuals, it is vital to consider the impact on those who rely on charity shops and affordable clothing. The rise in popularity of Depop has led to increased competition leading to pricing pressure and the gentrification of affordable shopping. Resellers and the perception of certain brands as valuable assets have driven up prices, making it harder for those on lower incomes to access affordable second-hand options.
Conclusion and action plan
This course not only opened my eyes to technology and its impact on society but also helped me be receptive, this vital skill allowed me to develop by considering feedback to improve. I shall continue to develop my critical thinking skills for the future as it is useful for future work. To ensure that I act differently when approaching similar processes I will ensure to look at previous work and feedback so that I can constantly develop my work.
