As we learned in Part 1 of this series, Global Science Research (GSR), Facebook, and Cambridge Analytica have each been the subjects of recent controversy for their respective roles in mining data from over 50 million Facebook profiles. While we can investigate how each company contributed to this event, we must also examine our own roles as social media users, and Canadians, in protecting our personal data. In this second installment of our investigation into the Cambridge Analytica scandal, we will look at a variety of ways we can personally and politically advocate for the protection of our data online.
What is our individual responsibility?
For many, the Cambridge Analytica incident has been the last straw in a long list of questionable privacy practices from the social media giant. Hours after new broke, the hashtag #DeleteFacebook started trending on Twitter, with many users following suit. For others, this was an inevitable consequence to offering personal information freely online. Regardless, it can act as a reminder of the ease in which data can be collected, the harmful ways in which it can be used, and the large scale repercussions that can occur as a result. So what can we as users do to both demand better regulation and individually ensure our data is secure on social media platforms?
Kevin Roose of the New York Times reminds us that for big changes to occur with social media networks, it would require radical efforts. He offers the suggestion of users sharing the economic value of their social media site in order to share the accountability. This would give them a seat at the table for major company decisions that would directly affect them as users. While he finds it unlikely that Zuckerberg will give up a portion of his empire and power to users, this could be the extended olive branch needed in order for Facebook to regain trust and transparency with the public [1]. In the meantime, Roose believes that policy changes such as the Honest Ads Act and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation are steps in the right direction.
Whether you have resolved to leave Facebook, or have resigned to the opinion that using social media comes at a cost, it’s always a good idea to check in and evaluate your social media use and privacy settings. If you’re not sure where to start, there are many online platforms to assist you. For a closer look at how simple it is for accurate data to be collected on you through your Facebook use alone, try installing the browser extension Data Selfie. It follows how you utilize the website and constructs a profile of you with the OCEAN model, similar to what Cambridge Analytica would have made and analyzed to create microtargeting ads. If your Data Selfie profile impels you to leave Facebook once and for all, Naked Security offers a helpful walkthrough for deactivating and deleting your accounts, as well as how to audit your apps that may be collecting personal data [2]. You can also visit Digital Tattoo’s removing myself from the internet page for a more permanent solution, or become more well-versed with the dangers of big data in our Protect Feature.
How does this affect Canadians?
While much of the news surrounding the incident has focused on the United States as the site of data harvesting, as the country’s neighbour, it is hard not to wonder what this means for Canadians. The University of Toronto’s Andrew Clement asks us to look at the bigger picture, in which Canada’s weak internet sovereignty has left us dependent on the United States for internet services and network infrastructure. This means that most of the popular social media websites Canadians use store their data in the United States, with approximately 90 percent of online communications crossing the border [3]. This is especially concerning, as this information then becomes subject to American surveillance without the protection of Canadian privacy laws. Clement gives the call to action for our government to gain control over the communication networks we so heavily depend upon by localizing Canada’s data within the country’s borders, and strengthening privacy protections. The first step to this is gaining national interest. While Cambridge Analytica’s unethical data mining practices have outraged and exploited its users, we can hope that the discussions that have followed have created a space where public interest moves toward beneficial change.
What Do You Think?
Have you deleted your Facebook account? Do you have any thoughts on user and company responsibility in the protection of personal data? Let us know in the comments below, or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!
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