elyse hill
In the News: Facebook begins launch of new petition feature
At the end of January, Facebook began to roll out a petition feature for users across the United States, calling the new tool “Community Actions.” Here, users are able to create a petition about a self-identified social issue, and accrue support from friends and members of the broader Facebook community. As well, this feature allows […]
In the News: Indian government proposes strict internet censorship laws
The Indian government has recently announced a proposal for a strict form of internet censorship that many have noted to be comparable to the regulations practiced in China. Within these new rules, any online content that Indian officials deem to be “unlawful” will be removed [1]. However, definitions of what can be considered unlawful content […]
In the News: YouTube updates algorithm to make extremist content harder to find
Recently, YouTube has been frequently criticized for leading viewers to content promoting disinformation, conspiracy theories, and radical thought through the site’s ‘Recommended for you’ and ‘Up next’ features, which suggest videos for users to watch. As reported by The Wall Street Journal in February 2018, YouTube’s algorithm for recommendations is responsible for more than 70% […]
Declutter Your Data 2019
Happy 2019! The beginning of a new year is a great time to check in with our daily practices and work on forming new healthy habits. Last year, members of Digital Tattoo took part in Mozilla’s Data Detox challenge, where we were given eight daily tasks to help us clean up our digital lives. You can read […]
In the News: Canada’s Auditor General reports ‘no plan’ to connect the digital divide
Though many perceive the ability to be online as a basic necessity, several rural communities across Canada still find themselves without access to high-speed connection. Many of these disconnected areas are Indigenous communities that already experience a disproportionate lack of vital resources, such as the absence of clean water or all-weather roads in the Shoal […]
Guest Blog Post: Disconnection
Until very recently, connection was always framed in terms of individual choice. If people found issue with being connected, perpetually distracted, or dulled to their immediate surroundings by their devices, it was the users themselves, and their lack of self-control that was to blame. Any solution or “escape” was to be found in the individual’s […]
In the News: Facebook pulls VPN from Apple App Stores over accusations of data harvesting
Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, allow user internet traffic to be encrypted and redirected through a private server, creating added security for user data. Many people use these forms of anonymous browsing to transfer information, or mask geographic location. But what about the companies running the VPNs? Are they not able to see the traffic […]
Open Collaboration: A Reflection on OpenCon2018
As a member of the Digital Tattoo project, we are constantly striving to create different avenues for student learning, by making high-quality educational resources free and accessible. Because of this, I was impelled to apply to the OpenCon 2018 to learn more about Open Access, Open Education, and Open Data. At the beginning of November, […]
In the News: France Implements Smartphone Ban in Schools
As of September of this year, elementary and middle school children in France are no longer allowed to carry their smartphones while in school. As a part of Emmanuel Macron’s presidential campaign, the controversial ban details that children up to the age of 15 must either leave their phones at home or give them to […]
In the News: Researchers develop sonar technology to steal smartphone passcodes
Last month, researchers from Lancaster University in England released work detailing a new technique where a smartphone’s built-in speaker and microphone can act as a sonar system to steal the phone’s unlock pattern. Sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging) uses sound propagation to detect the surrounding objects and their movements [1]. In this case, the development […]
People said…