Guest Post: Targeted Advertising and Ad Blocking Technologies

Guest Post: Targeted Advertising and Ad Blocking Technologies

By Rachael Bradshaw on August 24, 2021 | Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Targeted Advertising and Ad Blocking Technologies

by Laura Moberg

Have you ever wondered if your phone was listening to you? In an episode from their podcast Reply All, Alex Goldman and PJ Vogt investigate the belief many people have that Facebook is listening to us through our devices and using that information to create targeted ads. [7] While Goldman concludes that Facebook is not listening to us, the reality might actually be more disturbing: Facebook’s targeted advertising strategy relies on a sophisticated algorithm that builds a distinct profile of you as an individual by collecting data on sites you visit outside of Facebook, your location and demographic information, and your online connections, like Facebook friends. Part of what makes targeted advertising so unsettling is the fact that the algorithms used by social media companies are in a Black Box – unknown and inaccessible to users. Goldman states in the podcast that these algorithms are so complex that even Facebook employees probably couldn’t tell you exactly why you were seeing a certain ad.

If you’re anything like me, all advertisements seem somewhat invasive and manipulative, but targeted advertising is an even bigger concern because of the privacy issues associated with it. Targeted advertising – and, in particular, behavioural advertising, which is a model in which companies tailor ads based on individual user data and user profiles – is an increasingly pressing issue in the online environment. [3] While proponents of targeted advertising argue that it benefits both users and advertisers by matching individuals with the ads that are most relevant and useful to them and by increasing advertising revenue for online publishers, many users view targeted advertising as an infringement on their privacy and dislike the thought of their data being monetized in this way. [3] It is important for us as internet users to become more aware of our online behaviour and the data we are sharing with social media platforms and online advertisers. Understanding the privacy issues raised by targeted advertising is an important part of digital literacy.

So, what to do if you don’t like ads?

A common approach people take to avoid seeing online advertisements is to install ad blocking technologies, including browser extensions that hide unwanted ads on websites. The two most popular ad blockers are Adblock Plus and Ghostery. [4] Ad blockers promise users greater control over their browsing, protection against ads with malware and tracking, and faster, more efficient page loading. [8] Browser extensions are just one facet of a larger tendency termed “advertising avoidance,” which refers to the ways individuals avoid exposure to advertisements. [2] Advertising avoidance is not a novel concept and includes more analog activities such as switching radio stations during commercial breaks. However, the topic of advertising avoidance and ad blocking has risen in profile with the advent of the internet and its reliance on online advertising.

Complexities around ad blocking technologies

Despite their utopian promise of an ad-free, secure web, ad blocking technologies are not without complexities and controversies. These include the “whitelisting” features of ad blocking services, in which advertisers can pay to ensure they will not be blocked. [6] AdBlock Plus, for example, allows for what they term acceptable ads which are “respectful” ads which are not “intrusive or annoying”. [1] While it could be argued that all advertisements are to some extent intrusive, these moves by ad blocking companies also call into question the very principles of ad blocking as advertising avoidance. As José Estrada-Jiménez et al. (2017) note, Adblock Plus faced criticism once it became clear that they were being paid by advertising companies to whitelist them. The company responded by explaining their rationale and stressing that Adblock Plus is “not an all-or-nothing ad blocker”. [7]

Concerns have also been raised around the potential for ad blocking to contribute to a “shift from the open web”. [8] As most of the free content on the internet is sustained by money generated from online advertising, it has been argued that ad blocking may increase the amount of web content blocked by paywalls. Some websites have now implemented filters that restrict access to content for users who have an ad blocker enabled – blocking the blockers, if you will. For example, in 2016, WIRED decided to make their website content accessible only to those without ad blockers. They presented two options for readers: first, to “whitelist” WIRED.com, which allows ads to appear, or to subscribe for $1/week to an ad-free version of WIRED.com. [9] These decisions were justified by an argument that the increased advertising revenue would go toward supporting improved content for users.

Conclusion and Recommendations

So, the question remains: to ad block or not to ad block? Ultimately the decision rests with you. Either way, it is important to become aware of how your personal data and browsing activity is being monitored and tracked. While we can’t know exactly what’s inside Facebook’s “Black Box” of advertising algorithms, there are steps you can take to increase your control over the advertisements you see.

One simple action includes changing your ad settings on Facebook by navigating to the “Settings” page, then Ads. On this page you will find information about which advertisers you have seen the most, which ads you have clicked on, and which categories Facebook has used to profile you for relevant ads. From there, you can adjust your preferences through the Ad settings page. You can also turn off ad personalization on your Google account, and see the assumptions Google has made about you and your interests based on your browsing activity – some of them might surprise you!

If you’re interested in digital privacy and surveillance, you can learn more through other Digital Tattoo blog posts like this one on data sharing between WhatsApp and Facebook, or this one on tracking behavioural data providers with Ghostery.

How do you feel about targeted advertising? Do you use an ad blocker? How do you think we can develop online advertising models that support creators without compromising users’ privacy?

References

[1] Adblock Plus. (n.d.). Allowing acceptable ads in Adblock Plus. https://adblockplus.org/en/acceptable-ads.

[2] de Gregorio, F., Jung, J., & Sung, Y (2017, July). Advertising avoidance: A consumer socialization perspective. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 7(3), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.29333/ojcmt/2597.

[3] Edelman, G. (2020, March 22). Why don’t we just ban targeted advertising? WIRED. https://www.wired.com/story/why-dont-we-just-ban-targeted-advertising/.

[4] Estrada-Jiménez, J., Parra-Arnau, J., Rodríguez-Hoyos, A., & Forné, J. (2017). Online advertising: Analysis of privacy threats and protection approaches. Computer Communications, 100(1), 32-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.comcom.2016.12.016. [note: this resource is not open access]

[5] Goldman, A., & Vogt, PJ (Hosts). (2017, November 2). Is Facebook Spying on You? (No. 109) [Audio podcast episode]. In Reply All. Gimlet Media. https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/z3hlwr/109-is-facebook-spying-on-you.

[6] Hern, A. (2013, October 14). Adblock Plus: The tiny plugin threatening the internet’s business model. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/oct/14/the-tiny-german-company-threatening-the-internets-business-model.

[7] Lazauskas, J. (2016, September 14). ‘We’re not selling ads’: Adblock Plus responds to backlash about its acceptable ads platform. Contently. https://contently.com/2016/09/14/adblock-plus-platform-backlash/.

[8] Thomas, J. (2018). Programming, filtering, adblocking: Advertising and media automation. Media International Australia, 166(1), 34-43. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1329878X17738787. [note: this resource is not open access]

[9] WIRED Staff. (2016, February 8). How WIRED is Going to Handle Ad Blocking. WIRED. https://www.wired.com/how-wired-is-going-to-handle-ad-blocking/.

Written by Laura Moberg

Edited by Rachael Bradshaw

Featured image Adblock by Dave from Flickr via CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

 

 

 

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Guest Post & Quiz: Data Breach: Don’t Let it Get You!

By Rachael Bradshaw on August 10, 2021 | Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Data Breach: Don’t Let it Get You!

by Amruta Phansalker

Check out the end of this post for a fun quiz to see if you can spot potential data breaches!

We hear of data breach incidents often. But what are they exactly, and why should we worry about them?

Did you know that your data can be accessed in an unauthorized manner, and then sold for a profit? Whether the authorized owner is you or a large corporation, breached data is precious because it can be sold for a tidy sum. Take the case of MySpace, where data belonging to 360 million users was accessed and put up for sale on the dark web. [1] But the thing about data breaches is that they are not always as drastic as the breach at Myspace. Often, data breaches are surreptitious, such as when an unsuspecting individual has someone “peep into their computer” and get a good look at confidential data.

Why are data breaches so often talked about?

The pervasiveness of the internet means that people are now information foragers, meaning that their internet behavior is characterized by brisk decisions. [6] It is not uncommon to visit multiple websites, navigate between web pages, and exit them equally rapidly, all the while sharing data. Think about the number of times you answered surveys, filled out forms, shopped online, uploaded photos, wrote emails, or left comments on blog posts all in the same online session.

With our data becoming digital, cybercriminals need to find innovative ways to access your data. Interestingly, many data breaches are simply a result of “everyday occurrences” such as loss of phones or accidental exposure of data. These seemingly smaller incidents are twice as likely to occur as larger, more dramatic breaches.

It is not just companies that should be concerned about data breaches. You and I should be, as well.

Companies have a good reason to worry about data breaches, given the losses they may incur. But that doesn’t mean that you and I are not vulnerable. There are many types of breaches you could encounter in the ordinary course of life. Here are a few examples [4]:

  • Malware

This refers to a special type of computer program that harms your computer or gains access to your data without your knowledge. Common methods for distributing malware include email attachments, malicious applications, or suspicious websites.

  • Password attacks

In a password attack, an attacker submits multiple passwords and passphrases in the hopes of getting the correct password. Once the attacker gets the correct password, the data protected by that password is exposed.

  • Phishing

Phishing attacks involve emails that purportedly come from credible institutions such as banks. The emails employ deceptive strategies to gain access to your personal information. Have you ever received an email from your bank asking you to reset your password, but the sender address looked strange? If so, this might have been a phishing attempt.

  • Credit Card Skimming

Credit card skimming uses a special type of a chip to steal information stored on your credit cards. This is typically achieved by hiding the chip in ATMs, payment terminals, or gas pumps that have been compromised. Financial data stolen in this way is either sold or used by scammers to make their own fake credit cards. [3]

  • Recording Key Strokes

This is a type of a data breach where a special type of malware called a keylogger records everything that you type, such as your password. The “logged” data is then accessed and either sold or used for other    fraudulent purposes. [4]

  • Negligence

Theft of computers, laptops, or phones are common accidents which are very likely to happen. Sometimes though, mere carelessness might be at fault. For example, imagine a case in which you are not careful while accessing your financial data and somebody “looks over your shoulder” and sees your data. [7]

What happens to this stolen data?

Skimming equipment: $300, Counterfeit card equipment: $5,000, Using a fake credit card: Priceless. [3] You read that right! Stolen data is precious, and it can be used to make a lot of money. Cybercriminals will typically make an inventory of your data by first carefully categorizing it and then packaging it. Personal data as well as financial data can be sold in bulk, with the most recent data fetching the highest price. A full set of a person’s information such as social insurance number and address fetches anything between $1 and $ 450. [5] With financial data however, thieves can get a little creative. For example, a stolen credit card can be used to create fake cards, which in turn are sold or used inappropriately. Cybercriminals also specifically target more lucrative accounts. For example, military addresses are valuable and hackers can use them to breach government networks.

Protecting your data is in your hands

Personal data is precious and needs to be protected. Here are a few simple security tips to help you avoid having your data stolen [4]:

  • Beware of Malware

Malware is typically distributed via emails. Don’t download attachments or install programs if the sender of the email is unknown to you. [11] You can often report suspicious emails via your email provider.  If you receive suspicious emails to your work email, immediately inform your IT team or your supervisor.

  • Protect your passwords.

Think of passwords that are not easy to guess and make it a habit of committing them to only your memory or to a digital vault which can only be accessed by you.

  • Don’t let them phish!

Do not succumb to phishing attempts. Credible institutions such as banks or email providers will never ask for your sensitive data over email. If you receive such emails, either report them or ignore them.

  • Swipe your cards with care.

Skimmers usually tamper with unattended card swipe machines or ATMs in inconspicuous locations, which is why it is always a good idea to use an ATM at popular locations. If you notice suspicious transactions in your credit card statement, report them immediately.

  • It makes sense to be careful.

Public networks are vulnerable to security attacks, which is why you should access sensitive data such as bank details only on personal computers. For example, shared computers could have keylogging software, which means that every keystroke on that computer is recorded. Be cognizant of your surroundings when you are accessing your data. Remember, a peek over your shoulder can result in an inadvertent data leak!

It goes without saying that data breaches cannot be completely averted. However, simple safety habits are a great start because they contribute to making you “digitally safe”.

Has your data ever been breached? What made you aware that it was a data breach? What steps did you take when you discovered the breach?

References

[1] Swinhoe, D. (2021, January 8). The 15 biggest data breaches of the 21st century. CSO Online. https://www.csoonline.com/article/2130877/the-biggest-data-breaches-of-the-21st-century.html

[2] Ponemon Institute. (2020). Cost of a Data Breach Report. https://www.ibm.com/security/digital-assets/cost-data-breach-report/#/

[3] Barker, K. J., D’Amato, J., & Sheridon, P. (2008). Credit card fraud: awareness and prevention. Journal of Financial Crime, 15(4), 398–410. https://doi.org/10.1108/13590790810907236 [note: this resource is not open access]

[4] Moshkovich, D. (2020, September 9). 7 Most common types of data breaches and how they affect your business. HubStor. https://www.hubstor.net/blog/7-common-types-data-breaches-affect-business

[5] Collins, K. (2015, September 15). The price of a stolen identity on the dark web. Quartz. https://qz.com/460482/heres-what-your-stolen-identity-goes-for-on-the-internets-black-market/

[6] Baker, M., & Abel, S. (2013). Every Page Is Page One: Topic-Based Writing for Technical Communication and the Web (Illustrated ed.). XML Press. [note: this resource is not open access]

[7] Edwards, B., Hofmeyr, S., & Forrest, S. (2016). Hype and heavy tails: A closer look at data breaches. Journal of Cybersecurity, 2(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1093/cybsec/tyw003

[8] Kemp, S. (2021, February 11). Digital 2020: October Global Statshot. DataReportal – Global Digital Insights. https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2020-october-global-statshot

[9] Statista. (2021, March 3). Cyber crime: number of breaches and records exposed 2005–2020. https://www.statista.com/statistics/273550/data-breaches-recorded-in-the-united-states-by-number-of-breaches-and-records-exposed/

[10] Authors, T. G. (2018a, October 23). Survey: Nearly Half of U.S. Adults Experienced a Data Breach in the Past Three Years. The State of Security. https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/security-awareness/survey-personal-data-breach-results/

[11] Security Breach Examples and Practices to Avoid Them. (n.d.). UC Santa Cruz. https://its.ucsc.edu/security/breaches.html

Written by Amruta Phansalker

Edited by Rachael Bradshaw

Featured image : Data by JohnsonGuo (CC by 0 1.0) from Wikimedia Commons.

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Guest Post: Algorithms and the Death of Democratic Discourse

By Rachael Bradshaw on July 27, 2021 | Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Algorithms & The Death of Democratic Discourse

 by Christian Koch

Our entire digital history  tracked— and is still being tracked. Platforms like Google, Facebook, and others collect data from links clicked, time spent on a particular page, whether or not the content is shared, and even the most seemingly inconsequential choices— all to build pictures of user search propensities, or a user identity. And that personal data has been used to populate our social media and search feeds with content that we are statistically likely to click on. [8]

The reason for aggregating this historical data is to construct algorithms that can process our choices with the “[aim] to predict and modify human behavior as a means to produce revenue and market control”. [16] Algorithms sift through the immense available content online and show users what they are most likely to click on. Our perception is a streamlined and personalized internet experience. However, this process means that anything that is assessed to be less relevant to user interests is shuffled to the bottom. [8] Ergo, ideological diversity is limited to user interests and the potential for democratic discourse is undermined.

This curated content is designed to drive engagement, belief, and action while increasing profits on the side of the publisher. The algorithm responds to the behavior of the user by supplying similar content which reinforces their engagement with the ideas therein. This reinforcement creates a feedback loop as it creates an environment wherein “people share stories based on affective or emotional appeal more than factual accuracy, with the goal of supporting their pre-existing beliefs and signaling their identity to like-minded others”. [9] These feedback loops naturally exclude voices that differ from the group identity, which creates the potential for the cultivation of misinformation.

Consider the following: our click habits are being tracked while using these platforms’ services, and recall that their proprietary algorithms have the ability to parse that data into advertising strategies. Combine this with users’ dependence on these platforms for news acquisition [14], and then we begin to see the potential for stunted information exchange within feedback loops.

The danger inherent in a system that provides an a priori route to information acquisition is made worse by the disinterest these platforms show regarding the consequences their algorithms have on discourse in their pursuit of profit growth. [16] The ability to create environments for users of certain beliefs and habits seems a strategic way to advertise lucratively. But how then do opposing views come together to discuss the pressing issues of the moment when these environments have separated users from those who do not believe or behave in the same way? Each group experiences their media feeds unaware of the potential that portions of it could be curated for them so as to influence how they might participate online, in society, or even in an election. [3] And that very well could be the most sinister effect of social media and search algorithms — their ability to influence political participation.

One example of this kind of manipulation arose in the U.K. during the process of voting to leave the EU. Companies such as Cambridge Analytica and AggregateIQ purchased harvested personal data to build algorithms that could draft individualized messages loaded with personalized triggers so as to influence the way citizens might vote. [3] These companies had “found a way of targeting people based on behavioral input” [3] and were manipulating them to act in a certain way that suited the company’s interest.

What Can Be Done?

There are two ways for users to protect themselves against manipulation of this kind. The first is through increased awareness: awareness that our information is being captured and an understanding of how that data can be used. This strategy can assist in mitigating the impact of these algorithms by  illuminating the mechanisms underpinning the curation process, especially since “the typical user has little or no knowledge of… business operations,” within these internet companies and is likely unaware of the “range of personal data that [users] contribute to Google’s servers”. [16] But it doesn’t stop with awareness; it’s important for users to know that they aren’t locked into the curated feedback loops that they find themselves in. [4] Changes to search, click, and buying habits will shift content to match those new propensities.

The second tool in a user’s arsenal is content analysis. Increased user awareness offers a lens that users can use to analyze the content that populates on their feeds during web experiences. This is especially important when considering that “51% of people with online access use social media as a news source” and that Facebook has been found to be the platform most used for that purpose. [14] Groups using their social media platforms for news acquisition are less likely to use such as newspapers, televised news, etc. [5] For this reason, it is imperative that user awareness be used to assess the choices made online and how those choices can dictate the content visible to them. Furthermore, this content must be analyzed as it has the potential to reinforce already held beliefs while downplaying content that would otherwise challenge the user, without which users can become hindered in their ability to participate in democratic discourse with individuals outside of their feedback loop.

So, the next time you hover over the search bar or scroll through your social media feed, consider the following:

  • What kinds of content are being populated for me?
  • Does this content reflect a specific view or value judgement?
  • Do these views or values align with my own?
  • Are other views being represented within this content?

By asking these questions, users can begin to identify the loops that they are undoubtedly within. Empowerment then comes from this identification, as once the loop is identified, the user has the ability to make choices that can broaden the content that is visible to them.

References

[1] Blue, Charles (2021). Debunking Misinformation and Confronting Conspiracy Theories. Association for Psychological Science. https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/debunking-misinformation

[2] Caplan, R., Hanson, L., & Donovan, J. (2018). Dead reckoning: Navigating content moderation after fake news. Data & Society Research Institute. Retrieved from https://datasociety.net/pubs/oh/DataAndSociety_Dead_Reckoning_2018.pdf.

[3] Cadwalladr, carol (2017). The Great British Brexit Robbery: How Our Democracy was Hijacked. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/may/07/the-great-british-brexit-robbery-hijacked-democracy

[4] Dutton, William H. (2017). Fake news, echo chambers and filter bubbles: Underresearched      and overhyped. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/fake-news-echo-chambers-and-filter-bubbles-underresearched-and-overhyped-76688

[5] Gottfried, J., & Barthel, M. (2015). How millennials’ political news habits differ from those of Gen X and Baby Boomers. Pew Research Center. Retrieved June 26, 2019, from: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/06/01/political-news-habits-by-generation/ .

[6] Lazer, D., Baum, M., Grinberg, N., Friedland, L., Joseph, K., & Mattsson, C. (2017). Combating fake news: An agenda for research and action. Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. Retrieved June 26, 2019, from: https://shorensteincenter.org/combating-fake-news-agenda-for-research.

[7] Legg, H., & Kerwin, J. (2018). The fight against disinformation in the U.S.: A landscape analysis. Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy. Retrieved June 26, 2019, from: https://shorensteincenter.org/the-fight-against-disinformation-in-the-u-s-a-landscape-analysis/

[8] Luckerson, Victor (2015). Here’s How Facebook’s Newsfeed Actually Works. Time Magazine. https://time.com/collection-post/3950525/facebook-news-feed-algorithm/

[9] Marwick, A. (2018). Why do people share fake news? A sociotechnical model of media effects. Georgetown Law Technology Review, 2, 474–512. https://georgetownlawtechreview.org/why-do-people-share-fake-news-a-sociotechnical-model-of-media-effects/GLTR-07-2018/

[10] Marwick, A., & Lewis, R. (2017). Media manipulation and disinformation online. Data & Society Research Institute. Retrieved from https://datasociety.net/output/mediamanipulation-and-disinfo-online/

[11] Millennials and Baby Boomers: A Generational Divide in Sources Relied on for Political News. PEW Research Center. https://www.journalism.org/2015/06/01/millennials-political-news/pj_15-06-01_millennialmedia02/

[12] Mikkelson, David (2016). We Have a Bad News Problem, Not a Fake News Problem. Snopes. https://www.snopes.com/news/2016/11/17/we-have-a-bad-news-problem-not-a-fake-news-problem/

[13] Rieh, S.Y. (2014). Credibility Assessment of Online Information in Context. Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice, 2(3), 6-17. https://doi.org/10.1633/JISTAP.2014.2.3.1

[14] Wakefield, Jane (2016). Social media ‘outstrips TV’ as news source for young people. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36528256

[15] Wineburg, S., McGrew, S., Breakstone, J., & Ortega, T. (2016). Evaluating information: The cornerstone of civic online reasoning. Stanford Digital Repository. Retrieved June 26, 2019, from: http://purl.stanford.edu/fv751yt5934 .

[16] Zuboff, S. (2015). Big other: Surveillance Capitalism and the Prospects of an Information Civilization. Journal of Information Technology, 30(1), 75–89.  https://doi.org/10.1057/jit.2015.5

Written by Christian Koch

Edited by Rachael Bradshaw

Featured image Hacker Image by Darwin Laganzon via Pixaby License

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Guest Post: Chubby Cheeks, Tiny Hands, and Digital Footprints

By Rachael Bradshaw on July 13, 2021 | Tagged with , , , , , ,

Chubby Cheeks, Tiny Hands, and Digital Footprints

By Kira Vandermeulen

We’ve all seen those sweet posts featuring snaps of our friend’s baby with chubby cheeks and little hands. Today, social media is filled with children. This only makes sense: what with kids being so cute, why wouldn’t you Instagram it? However, as it becomes easier to share information, it can conversely become more difficult to decide what should and shouldn’t be posted.

The New Norm of ‘Sharenting’

Sharenting is “the habitual use of social media to share news, images, ect. of one’s children.” [1] The Collins Dictionary’s addition of this term in 2016 highlights just how commonplace it has become to post content about children online. Take a look at celebrities like DJ Kahled, who have Instagram handles for their kids or family Youtube channels, such as vloggers like Britney Morrow. [5, 7] Parents want to celebrate the close connection between parent and child and often do so by sharing images, videos, or stories about their children online. While it may be true that social media is a wonderful tool for sharing in the challenges and joys of parenting, it can also become unsafe and have a lasting impact on the digital identity of the child when photos, locations, and personal information are shared.

So, what are the risks?

Oversharing about children online can provide pedophiles with access to intimate photos of children through hashtags like #bathtime. [3] Locational safety can also be compromised by photos with geotagging, ‘check in’s,’ or any information that allows for identification of a child’s home or school address. Furthermore, institutions like Barclay’s Bank project that by 2030, online oversharing of personal information through mediums like sharenting will account for nearly 800 million US dollars in online fraud. [2] Concerns are also being raised over data mining and facial recognition technologies being used on children by corporations due to parents’ sharing. [4]

It’s an issue of consent

Sharenting may have ‘innocent intentions,’ or it can be overtly exploitative, such as sharing stories about emotionally vulnerable things a child says or experiences, sharing photos of children at extremist events to promote political views, or commercial exploitation of children’s lives on parent vlogs for followers and/or monetization. Whether parents have the best of intentions or the worst of intentions, the outcome may be the same. Thus, sharenting opens up many questions around consent.

Most children now typically possess a digital footprint by the age of two, and almost a quarter of American children make their online debut with sonogram photos before they have even entered the world. [6] Many of today’s children are inheriting a social media presence from birth to which they were unable to meaningfully consent. As legal guardians, parents have a right to share. However, children should also have a right to privacy and should possess agency in the curation of their own digital identities. Parents must seek to strike a balance between these two rights.

The Significance of Digital Footprint

Current parents and potential parents of the future have a responsibility to understand that any information, once shared online, is no longer within the sharer’s complete control and has the potential to exist indefinitely. Posting that cute photo of #pottytraining or that tantrum video might not be so sweet in ten years. Down the line, anything posted could be manipulated, cause embarrassment, or be visible to future employers and academic institutions. Posting about yourself as a parent creates a digital tattoo for your child that can have implications throughout the course of their lifetime.

What can parents do to mitigate risks for their children?

● Keep account settings on private
● Avoid posting naked or intimate photos
● Share via more private platforms, such as individual Whatsapp chats or baby media sharing platforms like tinybeans
● Do not share any information about children that are not your own without permission
● Never share information that reveals the address of your child’s home or school, such as a photo of your child in their school uniform
● Place your device on airplane mode prior to taking photos
● Use a nickname when posting about your child
● Include your child in the conversation and selection of what and how much gets posted
● Before sharing ask, “is this something that I would be comfortable sharing if it were about me?”, as well as “do I want this to be a part of my child’s digital footprint indefinitely?”

Are you someone who is conscious about how your online activities affect your digital footprint? Had you ever thought about how your online activities could also affect today’s children as well as future generations? Feel free to leave a comment below to tell us about your thoughts on the involvement of children on social media.

References

[1] Collins English Dictionary https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sharenting

[2] Coughlan, S. (2018, May 21). ‘Sharenting’ puts young at risk of online fraud. BBC.

https://www.bbc.com/news/education-44153754

[3] Harmsen, N. (2019). How social media hashtags put your kids in danger—both online and

offline. Today’s Parent (Online). https://www.todaysparent.com/family/parenting/hashtags-put-kids-in-danger-online-and-offline/

[4] Hill, K., & Krolik, A. (2019). How photos of your kids are powering surveillance technology. The

New York Times (Online). https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/10/11/technology/flickr-facial-recognition.html

[5] Kahled, A. T. [@asahdkhaled] (n.d.). Instagram. Retrieved March 22, 2021, from

https://www.instagram.com/asahdkhaled/

[6] Lorenz, T. (2019). When kids realize their whole life is already online. The Atlantic.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/02/when-kids-realize-their-whole-life-already-online/582916/

[7] Morrow, B. [britneyandbaby]. (n.d.) Youtube. Retrieved March 22, 2021, from

https://www.youtube.com/c/britneyandbaby/about

Written by Kira Vandermeulen

Edited by Rachael Bradshaw

Featured image MM00A-1602 MET PHO BAB LGR by Marsel Minga has been attributed to the public domain (CC0) 

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Guest Post: Navigating COVID-19 Dashboards

By Rachael Bradshaw on June 29, 2021 | Tagged with , , , ,

Navigating COVID-19 Dashboards

by Kailey Fukushima

When COVID-19 arrived in British Columbia, I sought safety in information seeking. In Spring 2020, I visited COVID-19 dashboards several times daily. I experienced near-overwhelming anxiety until I learned to navigate these technologies intentionally. Does my story sound familiar to you? If so, you are certainly not alone. COVID-19 dashboards can be powerful tools for keeping up with pandemic-related data; however, they can easily fuel anxiety during trying times. This post offers an introduction to COVID-19 dashboards with considerations and strategies for thoughtful engagement.

What Are COVID-19 Dashboards & Who Are They For?

A COVID-19 dashboard is a digital display with clusters of information and visualizations that pertain to the spread and treatment of COVID-19. You may be familiar with the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Dashboard, which has become the standard for visualizing current COVID-19 data on a global scale.

 

These dashboards are open access but whose needs do they serve? Jacqueline Wernimont explains that the original dashboards of the 19th and 20th centuries responded to the information needs of key decision-makers—i.e., people with the power to translate data into action. [17] Think, for example, of how a speedometer presents data (current speed) that impacts your ability to act (decelerate). I don’t know about you, but I am not a key pandemic decision-maker.

 

COVID-19 dashboards now serve a mass public audience with far less influence than those for whom the dashboard was originally designed. With that said, we are not powerless: pandemic management depends on us following provincial health orders, and COVID-19 dashboards can certainly aid our efforts. But, like Wernimont, I question the degree to which we rely on these tools and their captivating visualizations. Is there a point at which excessive information accumulation causes harm?

Pandemic Anxiety Vs. the Infodemic

Information Overload & Pandemic Anxiety

It will not surprise you that my response to the above question is “yes.” COVID-19 dashboard visualizations can lead to information overload—an affective and embodied experience which the Interaction Design Federation summarizes as “presenting so much data that you leave the user confused and/or unable to make a decision”. [13]

COVID-19 dashboards may also heighten individual experiences of helplessness and anxiety. Jonathan Everts frames the COVID-19 dashboard explicitly as “a biopolitical technology of anxiety,” and argues that “pandemic anxiety. . . arises from the artefacts of pandemic risk management”. [8]

Incidentally, Canadians have reported increased anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. [2, 3, 4, 5] Studies do not show causality between declining mental health and interactions with pandemic technologies; nonetheless, we should take seriously the revelation that the societal impacts of COVID-19 include widespread taxes on mental health, which uncritical online information practices can exacerbate.

Fighting the Infodemic

Of course, COVID-19 dashboards also serve a public good. They tie closely with governmental and scholarly institutions and make use of reputable databanks; as such, they are vital tools for helping manage the current infodemic.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines infodemic as “too much information including false or misleading information in digital and physical environments during a disease outbreak”. [18] Responses to the WHO’s declaration of a COVID-19 infodemic have focused, justifiably, on the need to build societal resilience to mis- and disinformation. [14, 16] Such work highlights, for example, how we can resist the crisis of fake news and its derailing of international pandemic response efforts.

What Can We Do?

Monitor Your Use

Recently, Digital Tattoo contributor Eseohe Ojo recommended digital detox for managing information overload amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Canadian mental health resources support this technique, noting that “the goal is to take in the information you need and cut down on the excess, not to ignore the situation altogether”. [7, 9]

We can monitor our time spent engaging with technologies like COVID-19 dashboards and ask ourselves questions like: How does this information serve me beyond accumulation? Does it empower me to act? If you find yourself sitting at home constantly checking these dashboards and getting increasingly anxious about the information you find, it might be time to take a break and reduce your consumption of this information, at least for the time being.

Improve Dashboard Literacy

We can also equip ourselves with an understanding of dashboards’ histories, purposes, and mechanics. Assessing dashboard visualizations for what they are—data rendered visual, rather than a result of data’s interpretation—can help us to reorient ourselves as active interpreters of information. As Uta Hinrichs and Stefania Forlini argue, visualization is a research process rather than a product. [11]

Doing so can help us to think critically about the labour that we invest in these technologies. COVID-19 dashboards offer many specialized and dynamic data visualizations, all of which render human lives strangely quantifiable and numerical. Interpreting these dashboard visualizations requires analytical and emotional work, which often goes unnoticed and unacknowledged. When engaging with COVID-19 dashboards, ask yourself questions like: What forms of mental, emotional, and intellectual effort am I investing in my interpretation of this data? If you find yourself feeling drained or exhausted after visiting COVID-19 dashboards, remember that you are playing an active role in interpreting and synthesizing the data on the screen. This kind of reflection on your active learning process can help you to discern when it might be time step back and take a break.

Conclusion

I hope that this brief introduction to COVID-19 dashboards will encourage you to approach these information technologies with intentionality in your day-to-day pandemic decision-making.

Are COVID-19 dashboards part of your daily information-seeking toolkit? What thoughts do you have about your interactions with these technologies? Please feel free to share your experiences below!

References

[1] BC CDC (2021). COVID-19. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC). http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19.

[2] —. (2021b). COVID-19 survey. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC). http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/covid-19-survey.

[3] —. (2021c). BC COVID-19 SPEAK results. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC). Tableau Public. https://public.tableau.com/profile/bccdc#!/vizhome/BCCOVID-19SPEAKSurvey/BCCOVID-19SPEAKresults.

[4] CAMH. (2020a). Anxiety patterns in Canadians mirror progression of pandemic. Centre for Addition and Mental Health (CAMH). https://www.camh.ca/en/camh-news-and-stories/anxiety-patterns-in-canadians-mirror-progression-of-pandemic.

[5] —. (2020b). COVID-19 National Survey Dashboard. Centre for Addition and Mental Health (CAMH). https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-health-and-covid-19/covid-19-national-survey.

[6] Center for Systems Science and Engineering. (2021). COVID-19 dashboard. Coronavirus Resource Center, Johns Hopkins University & Medicine. https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html.

[7] CMHA. (n. dat.) Pandemic pushing your anxiety buttons? Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): British Columbia Division. https://cmha.bc.ca/news/managing-anxiety-covid-19/.

[8] Everts, J. (2020). The dashboard pandemic. Dialogues in Human Geography 10(2), 260-64. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/10.1177/2043820620935355. [note: this resource is also available open source through the WHO’s Global literature on coronavirus disease. See https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/global-literature-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/resource/en/covidwho-603771.]

[9] Government of British Columbia. (n.dat.) Protect your well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak. Here2Talk. https://here2talk.ca/explore/articleVideo/Popular/dfcf2da65ce84c8a9216d21551e6d5a9.

[10] —. (2021). Public health restrictions. Government of British Columbia. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions.

[11] Hinrichs, U. and S. Forlini. (2018). In defence of sandcastles: Research thinking through visualization in digital humanities. Digital Scholarship in the Humanities 34(12), DOI:10.1093/llc/fqy051 [note: a version of this resource is available via the primary author’s webpage. See http://www.utahinrichs.de/uta/uploads/Publications/Publications/visualizationSandcastles.pdf.]

[12] Huang, J. (2020). Fake news! Who cares! Digital Tattoo. University of British Columbia. https://digitaltattoo.ubc.ca/2020/10/20/guest-post-fake-news-who-cares/.

[13] Information overload, why it matters and how to combat it. (2020). Interaction Design Foundation. https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/information-overload-why-it-matters-and-how-to-combat-it.

[14] Naeem, S. B. and R. Bhatti. (2020). The Covid-19 ‘infodemic’: a new front for information professionals. Health Information and Libraries Journal 37(3), 233-39. http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/10.1111/hir.12311. [note: this resource is also available open source through PubMed Central. See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7323420/.]

[15] Ojo, E. (2020). Digital detox: How I’m dealing with the information overload. Digital Tattoo. University of British Columbia. https://digitaltattoo.ubc.ca/2020/07/07/digital-detox-how-im-dealing-with-the-information-overload/.

[16] Walker, P. (2021). The library’s role in countering infodemics. Journal of the Medical Library Association 109(1), 133-36. http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/10.5195/jmla.2021.1044. [note: this resource is also available open source through PubMed Central. See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7772990/.]

[17] Wernimont, J. (2021, January). Covid-19 dashboards are vital, yet flawed, sources of public information. Made by History in The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/01/26/covid-dashboards-are-vital-yet-flawed-sources-public-information/.

[18] WHO. (n. d.) Infodemic. World Health Organization (WHO). https://www.who.int/health-topics/infodemic#tab=tab_1.

Written by Kailey Fukushima

Edited by Rachael Bradshaw

Featured image Coronavirus by Engin Akyurt via Pixaby License

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Guest Post: A Clear Cookie Jar: Discussing the Increased Autonomy of Our Digital Privacy

By Rachael Bradshaw on June 15, 2021 | Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

A Clear Cookie Jar: Discussing the Increased Autonomy of Our Digital Privacy

by Olivia Done

Image shared from @Entrepreneur on Twitter via Twitter Fair Use Policy

We all have privacy agreement fatigue, often accepting all cookies on browsers and skipping new privacy agreement emails. [1] However, recent changes to EU and Canadian digital privacy laws provide us with more user autonomy over data mining [2], terminology we can all understand and options to restrict and remove data collected. We’ll discuss everything in basic terms below, and give helpful tips on next steps you can apply in your digital life.

Image shared from @maxoupial and @DTatUBC on Twitter via Twitter Fair Use Policy

What is Bill C-11: The Digital Charter Implementation Act (DCIA 2020)?

This proposed bill would be the first update to Canadian digital privacy laws in decades [3]. It follows the EU’s implementation of the GDPR (2018), California’s implementation of the CPRA (2020) and public discussions about digital privacy following the Cambridge Analytica scandal. [4]

We all have a  general understanding that our data is being mined for advertising purposes, tailoring our online experiences to our interests without consciously choosing the topics. However, in the past there was no regulation or oversight to protect us as consumers, which is why the solution for digital privacy was often to stop using the service or don’t upload your information. The new regulations over digital privacy policies allow for greater freedom to continue using these services without an ‘all or nothing’ agreement.

The Acronyms Explained

When looking for information around the new and existing privacy acts, there are a myriad of acronyms, as seen in the  word cloud. This can lead to confusion. Below are some terms you might need to know.

Image created by Olivia Done on WordArt.com

Bill C-11 = the proposed Digital Charter Implementation Act (known as the DCIA 2020 – these acronyms are sometimes used interchangeably)

This legislation replaces:

PIPEDA (the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) with:

CPPA (Consumer Privacy Protection Act)

AND

PIPDT (Personal Information and Data Protection Tribunal Act). [5, 6]

 

These Canadian policies are often referenced in relation to (and build upon):

GDPR: The General Data Protection Regulation, European Union, enacted in 2018, and

CPRA: The California Privacy Rights Act of 2020.

What to Expect in Privacy Policies, Terms and Conditions and Cookie Notices:

The DCIA 2020 [7] will require organizations to use plain language to gain consent. They must specify:

  1. The purposes for collection, use or disclosure
  2. The way in which personal information is collected
  3. Any reasonably foreseeable consequences of the collection
  4. The names of any third parties

There are also new requirements about accessing and deleting data, along with algorithmic transparency. [8]

What Does this Mean for Your Apps?

Apple’s App Tracking Transparency:

With IOS 14, all apps that wish to track, access one’s device’s advertising identifier or share information with data brokers must get explicit permission and follow an AppTrackingTransparency framework [9]. Interestingly, this has sparked a ‘data privacy war’ with Facebook [10]. While Facebook fears lack of personalized ads will harm small businesses, Apple believes digital privacy is a human right and are creating these tools to allow users to make informed decisions.

Google:

Google’s updated Terms and Agreements (updated November 2020) and Privacy Policy (updated February 2021) along with new tools to manage account and data preferences reflect these new requirements. [11] For example, they explicitly describe when they share identifiable and non-identifiable information and discuss how it is used, providing examples, clarifications and definitions.

Google Takeout allows you to download all of your data within the different apps to review, export or delete. These requirements to allow users to request deletion of data were specified in the DCIA 2020 and the EU’s GDPR. [12]

You can see Google’s assumptions about your interests here. [11] Along with an understanding about what they know, there is an option to either turn off ad personalization completely or adjust your settings by removing certain automatically-created tags. This information is gathered based on your activity while you were signed in, including YouTube, location tracking from Google maps, audio recordings from Google assistant or Google home and activities in other Google apps. You can manage your activity here, allowing you to check a box about which of these activities can collect data to create more personalized recommendations. Within this tool, there is also the option for auto-delete, a feature that deletes activity data older than 3 months, 18 months or 36 months.

Screenshot of privacy policy from Country Living taken by Olivia Done

Cookie Notices:

When the cookie notice pops up on a website you’re visiting, rather than ‘accept cookies’, click on ‘more information’ or ‘our privacy policy’ and you will often find options to turn off and on specific types of cookies.

All of these legal changes and resources have been described to help you customize your digital footprint. I implore all of you to take a look at the new Apple tracking requests and cookie cookie notices to make your own decisions… and tell your friends and family too!

Want to learn more about Canada’s changing digital privacy laws? Check out guest contributor Alexander Howes’s post on internet regulation in Canada and Rachael Bradshaw’s post on Bill C-10 to learn more.

How much data tracking are you comfortable with? Will you deny all tracking or allow some depending on the content? Let us know in the comments below!

References

[1] Belanger, L. (2018, May 29) Here’s Why Your Inbox Is Filled With Privacy Policy Emails. Entrpreneur. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/314170

[2] Heras, M. (2014, April 10) Data Mining: How eBay knew I’d buy that Batman Snuggie. Digital Tattoo. https://digitaltattoo.ubc.ca/2014/04/10/data-mining-how-ebay-knew-id-buy-that-batman-snuggie/

[3]  Bednar, V., & Surman, M. (2021, January 12) Digital privacy law is being updated for the first time in decades, and it’s imperative we get it right. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/opinion-digital-privacy-bill-c11-1.5863117

[4] Hill, E. (2018, May 10). #DeleteFacebook? An investigation into the Cambridge Analytica scandal part 2. Digital Tattoo.  https://digitaltattoo.ubc.ca/2018/05/10/deletefacebook-an-investigation-into-the-cambridge-analytica-scandal-part-2/

[5] Buchanan, J., et al. (2021, March 20) Canada: Canada’s Privacy Overhaul: Deep Dive Into The Key Topics Of Data Subject Rights, Consent, De-identification, The Tribunal / Litigation And Data Governance. Mondaq. https://www.mondaq.com/canada/privacy-protection/1049118/canada39s-privacy-overhaul-deep-dive-into-the-key-topics-of-data-subject-rights-consent-de-identification-the-tribunal-litigation-and-data-governance?type=related

[6] Paszti, L., et al. (2020, December, 04) Canada: How Will Bill C-11 Change The Way Organizations Process Personal Information? Mondaq.  https://www.mondaq.com/canada/privacy-protection/1011928/how-will-bill-c-11-change-the-way-organizations-process-personal-information?)

[7] House of Commons of Canada. (2020, November 17) Bill C-11: First Reading.  https://parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/43-2/bill/C-11/first-reading

[8] Government of Canada. (2020, November 17) Fact Sheet: Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2020 https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/062.nsf/eng/00119.html

[9] Apple. (nd) User Privacy and Data Use. https://developer.apple.com/app-store/user-privacy-and-data-use/

[10] Sherr, I. (2021, April 26) Apple’s privacy battle with Facebook just became all-out war. CNET. https://www.cnet.com/news/apples-privacy-battle-with-facebook-just-became-all-out-war/

[11] Google. (2020, March 31) Privacy and Terms. https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en-US

[12] Google. (nd) Google Takeout.  https://takeout.google.com/settings/takeout

[13] Google. (nd) Ad personalization. https://adssettings.google.com/u/0/authenticated

Written by Olivia Done

Edited by Rachael Bradshaw

Featured image Apps by Gerd Altmann via Pixaby License

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Bill C-10: An Urgent Update or a Free Speech Fail?

By Rachael Bradshaw on June 8, 2021 | Tagged with , , , ,

If you’ve been keeping up with Canadian digital privacy laws (or even if you haven’t), you might have seen posts online about Bill C-10. You know, the angry posts by concerned Canadians about their online freedom of expression? Yep, those are the ones. While Bill C-10 may have originally been born with the good intention of helping to regulate the wild west that is online content creation, it has generated a lot of controversy due to changes that the bill has seen in recent weeks. But are these criticisms warranted? I’d like to take you through the creation of this bill and the changes that it has undergone recently so that you can judge for yourself.

Bill C-10 is supposed to regulate international media providers. Image by Nicolas from Pexels.

Hopeful beginnings

Bill C-10 started out as the first major update to the Broadcasting Act since 1991 – a much needed change, since the way that we consume media has changed immeasurably in the last thirty years. One of the main goals of the bill is to bring huge international streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube under Canadian regulation in order to ensure that these companies spend money to support Canadian creators and their content. Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Heritage Minister and one of the main voices behind the bill, claims that “[t]he bill is about restoring a balance that the arrival of the web giants has skewed very seriously in their own favour at the expense of local people and businesses.” [2]

 

Concerns and controversy

Some Canadians are concerned that Bill C-10 will regulate the content they post online. Image from Yama Saighani from Pexels.

Despite the positive beginnings of this bill, controversy struck in April of this year, when a motion was made to eliminate a clause in the bill that explicitly excluded individual users of social media platforms and independent content creators from regulation under the Broadcasting Act. [1] Many Canadians were startled at this proposed elimination and became concerned about the potential implications for their digital identities and the content that they produce online, but this section of the bill was nevertheless eradicated. Michael Geist, a Canadian academic who specializes in e-commerce law and online security, states that “[t]he government believes that it should regulate all user generated content, leaving it to regulators to determine on what terms and conditions will be attached the videos of millions of Canadians” [3], a plan that he believes is “entirely unworkable, a risk to net neutrality and a threat to freedom of expression”. [4] (Check out our interview with Michael Geist to hear more on his views of Canadian copyright laws.) The Canadian Federation of Library Associations has also called for the reinstatement of the clause that would guarantee protection of freedom of expression for individual content creators.

However, not everyone believes that these criticisms are warranted. Proponents of the bill claim that the clause at hand was eliminated to avoid legal loopholes that companies could take advantage of, not in an attempt to curtail the free speech of Canadians. Specifically, members of the Liberal party say that they removed the clause “because they had heard during the committee testimony from witnesses who flagged that as it was worded, platforms such as YouTube could find a loophole to not be considered music streamers even though they are one of the main places Canadians listen to music.” [1] As Liberal MP Julie Dabrusin (hilariously) put it, “We do not want to regulate your cat videos. The CRTC does not want to regulate your cat videos.” [1]

What do you make of all of this?

With loud voices on either side spouting ideas and opinions that both seem reasonable, it can be hard to know what to think about Bill C-10. Certainly, reigning in tech giants and supporting Canadian creators is important, but freedom of expression is extremely important too. The debate around this bill has also been very heated online, making it even harder to engage with the issue. From personal experience, I would recommend not searching #billc10 on Twitter unless you are ready to see some nasty comments.

Ultimately, as with any legal issue, I believe that the best things that we can do are to keep informed about the bill and its updates and make our voices heard, whether we have concerns or wish to show support. When researching about Bill C-10 online, remember this is a contentious topic, especially on social media. Be sure to assess the partiality of the sources that you read and be careful to keep an eye out for fake news. And if you do decide to voice your opinions about Bill C-10 online, check out this post about using your online democratic voice to brush up on how to respectfully and effectively share your views online.

To read more about the changes to Canadian digital laws, check out last week’s guest post by Alexander Howes about understanding internet regulation in Canada. And be sure to come back next week to check out guest contributor Olivia Done’s post about the upcoming changes to Canada’s Bill C-11 and what they will mean for online data collection.

What do you think about Bill C-10? What kind of changes would you like to see when it comes to regulating online content in Canada? Feel free to share your views in the comments below!

Resources

[1] Aiello, R. (2021, May 7). Is the government trying to regulate the videos that you post? What you need to know about Bill C-10. CTV News. https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/is-the-government-trying-to-regulate-the-videos-you-post-what-you-need-to-know-about-bill-c-10-1.5414080

[2] CBC News. (2021, May 14). Heritage minister stands by controversial Bill C-10, urges MPs to pass it ‘quickly’. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/guilbeault-heritage-committee-bill-c10-1.6026949

[3] Geist, M. (2021, April 23). Freedom of Expression Under Attack: The Liberal Government Moves to Have the CRTC Regulate All User Generated Content. https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2021/04/freedom-of-expression-under-attack-the-liberal-government-moves-to-have-the-crtc-regulate-all-user-generated-content/

[4] Turnbull, S. (2021, May 17). House committee hears clashing expert opinions on Bill C-10. CTV News. https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/house-committee-hears-clashing-expert-opinions-on-bill-c-10-1.5431515

Written by Rachael Bradshaw

Featured image Data Protection Regulation by Mohamed Hassan via Pixaby License

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Guest Post: Understanding Internet Regulation in Canada

By Rachael Bradshaw on June 1, 2021 | Tagged with , , , ,

Understanding Internet Regulation in Canada

by Alexander Howes

There have been several recent movements in Canada surrounding internet regulation. As nations around the world continue to develop policies that protect their citizens, it is important to be aware of what and who is being protected. In Canada, legislation is currently in the process of being enacted to protect Canadians online. What follows is a brief summary of who is in charge and what is being done.

 

Why it matters

Each day, online users provide an increasing amount of data to private companies. Besides basic identifying information (name, age, etc.), companies can also track your online behaviour, habits and preferences. This data is often grouped, sometimes anonymized, and sold to other companies. Check out the Digital Tattoo tutorial on data mining to learn more about this.

During the pandemic, as users spend more time online and create even more data, profits often take priority over users’ data safety and security.  To that end, our governments, as regulators, have obligations to protect us.

 

Who is in Control?

The internet has evolved to become an expansive and complex network. As such, the structures of the federal government have not exactly kept up with the internet’s development, leaving regulation spread across various, disparate government bodies. In Canada, internet regulation currently falls under three broad areas of government:

Ministry of Heritage

The Ministry of Heritage has a large and growing mandate. Heritage includes traditional programs and services like television and radio (i.e. CBC) and funding for museums and galleries. However, over the years heritage has also expanded to include the internet and the content that’s created on the internet.

The Ministry of Heritage is currently proposing Bill C-10: An Act to amend the Broadcasting Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts. Through this legislation, the Ministry is striving to accomplish a few goals through the updating of the Broadcasting Act, which has existed since 1991. One goal is to better define the internet and how it factors into the Canadian media landscape and economy. [1] Another overarching goal of Bill C-10 is to better regulate private content-creating companies  Prior to Bill C-10, these companies had been under-regulated and poorly understood in a Canadian context.

As of May 2021, as Bill C-10 makes its way through the legislative process, more revisions are being made to make the Bill more inclusive and definitive, such as the focused inclusion of indigenous communities. Bill C-10 would require professional content creators such as YouTube to set aside funds directly for Indigenous producers in Canada to create and share content. Heritage Minister Steven Gilbeault says “…the Broadcasting Act needs to reflect and embrace Indigenous cultures, Indigenous music and Indigenous productions in a way it has never before”. [2]

Innovation, Science, and Economic Development

The ISED department also regulates the internet. In this department, the internet is seen as a economic driver. ISED has a mandate to improve competition and foster innovation, with the internet being a key factor for regulation. ISED also has a mandate to protect the data of Canadians through regulation of private companies operating in Canada.

Bill C-11: Digital Charter Act is currently on its way to becoming legislation. Bill C-11 aims to “significantly increase protections to Canadians’ personal information by giving Canadians more control and greater transparency when companies handle their personal information”.

Treasury Board Secretariat

Lastly the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) regulates all online government services for public servants, politicians, and all Canadians. These services can include Government of Canada websites, databases, document and email servers, and more. TBS regulates the internet through the Privacy Act and protects all information that Canadians share with the federal government.

The Privacy Act, enacted in 2018, aims to provide enhanced protection for Canadians within its government institutions. Through frequent reporting and risk management, this arm of the federal government operates as managers for your data within the federal government.

 

What is of Concern?

As the internet continues to impact our digital and physical environment, commentators are keen to scrutinize any regulation that aims to improve or protect the data and privacy of its citizens. Federal internet regulation in Canada is no exception. One concern is that regulation such as Bill C-11 does not go far enough to protect privacy.

Another concern is that any regulation of the internet has the potential to impact free speech. The intent of Bill C-10, for example, is to help promote Canadian content through the regulation of professional content creators, such as Netflix and YouTube. Where there is concern is that on many of these platforms, users are the ones creating the content. Would federal regulation impact what a user is able to upload and have viewed? These are the details currently being discussed.

 

What can you do?

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted our abilities to stay civically engaged. Staying engaged in the discussion of internet regulation can take several forms.

  1. Stay informed: Follow the discussion through the channels of your choice and – most importantly – consider the source of the information. Check out Digital Tattoo’s guest post “Fake News! Who Cares!” to learn more.
  2. Contact your MP: If you are staying informed and would like your voice heard, contact your federal MP. This person is your direct link to parliament and can advocate for your stance.
  3. Know your rights: In Canada, citizens are protected by the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. These rights pertain to freedom of speech and protection from discrimination, including those from marginalized backgrounds. Knowing your rights can help to inform you and support those in your community.

 

As Canada joins other global nations in the movement to better protect its citizens online, we may soon see more advocacy for online privacy, diverse digital cultures and fairness worldwide. What kinds of changes would you like to see in Canada’s federal digital privacy laws?

 

Want to learn more about Canada’s changing digital privacy laws? If so, check out Digital Tattoo contributor Rachael Bradshaw’s post exploring Bill C-10. And be sure to check back on our blog in a couple of weeks to read guest contributor Olivia Done’s post on the upcoming changes to Bill C-11 and what they will mean for online data collection

References

[1] Government of Canada (2020, November 19). Charter statement BILL C-10: An act to amend the Broadcasting act and to make consequential amendments to other acts. Retrieved May 04, 2021, from https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/pl/charter-charte/c10.html

[2] Johnson, R. (2020, November 19). Proposed changes to Broadcasting Act have Indigenous producers cautiously Optimistic | CBC News. Retrieved May 04, 2021, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/bill-c10-indigenous-broadcasting-1.5808247

[3] Jones, R. P. (2021, April 30). Why you should care about Ottawa’s move to regulate online content | CBC News. CBCnews. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bill-c10-user-generated-content-1.6007192

[4] Lynne Ashton, K. (2021, February 23). “Bill C-10: Modernizing the Broadcasting Act”. Retrieved May 04, 2021, from Canada Media Fund/Fonds Des Medias du Canada: https://cmf-fmc.ca/now-next/articles/bill-c-10-modernizing-the-broadcasting-act/#:~:text=The%20Bill%20makes%20a%20further,’as%20resources%20become%20available’ .

Written by Alexander Howes

Edited by Rachael Bradshaw

Featured image Labor Law Lawyer by Mohamed Hassan via Pixaby License

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Guest Video: Privacy vs. Anonymity

By Rachael Bradshaw on May 18, 2021 | Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

Privacy vs. Anonymity

by Misha Khawaja and Ali Albastaki

Do you know the difference between online privacy and anonymity? This excellent video by Misha Khawaja and Ali Albastaki from the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information, and Technology, University of Toronto, Mississauga does a great job of explaining the difference!

Which is more important to you when you go online: privacy or anonymity? Let us know if you are Team Privacy or Team Anonymity in the comments below!

Video by Misha Khawaja and Ali Albastaki

Blog Post Edited by Rachael Bradshaw

Featured image Untitled by Christina Morillo via Pexels license

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Guest Post: Social Media and You: What questions about social media haven’t we asked ourselves?

By Rachael Bradshaw on May 4, 2021 | Tagged with , , , , , ,

Social Media and You: What questions about social media haven’t we asked ourselves?

by Annika Marshall

“To capture the world’s moments.” [1] That’s the motto that caught everyone’s attention when Instagram first kicked off in 2010. However, the motto is missing a key detail – “with a filter on top.” Social media was once advertised as a platform to share photos and connect with others. However, for some users, it has since morphed into a breeding ground for insecurity, toxicity and social comparison. Where did social media go wrong – or where did we? What questions should we be asking ourselves when it comes to using social media?

Woman takes a photograph of a tree on her smartphone

Are we utilizing social media with intention? (Source)

1.) Are we utilizing social media with intention?

Intention allows us to live authentically and with purpose. With technology and our phones always within our reach, it becomes all too easy for social media to pull us in with its flashy images and attention-grabbing videos. We open Instagram – sometimes even unconsciously – and time flies. We need to ask ourselves: is there any reason I am on social media right now? Why am I spending my time this way?

Mindless scrolling doesn’t result in happiness but rather can leave us feeling defeated, despondent and sometimes lonely. Some individuals even find deleting the app a great way to clear their heads and live more intentionally. Check out the article “Why I Deleted My Instagram and Haven’t Looked Back” on how deleting Instagram could potentially boost self-confidence.

A potential method that can help combat unintentional social media usage is utilizing the “Pomodoro Technique.” This time management technique calls for users to work in intervals: twenty-five minutes of work or studying, then a five minute break, which in this case can be spent on social media. The Pomodoro Technique is known to increase perception and productivity when it comes to completing tasks. As indicated by New York Times contributor Dean Kissick, the Pomodoro Technique “has made [him] see time afresh – as something we really don’t have enough of, as something precious precisely because it’s ephemeral.” [2] If you’re the type of person that struggles with aimless scrolling, try this method for a couple of weeks and see if it helps you utilize social media with intention.

2.) What do “likes” represent to us?

Another downfall of social media is that it inadvertently but powerfully pulls us into the world of “like culture”. It’s common for us to question the quality of our posts based on the number of likes they receive. For instance, if our photos of food get the most likes, we will tend to post more of them, even if we’re not actually all that into food pictures. Accord to Psychology Today, humans are geared towards positive reinforcement, and the “like system” that exists on social media platforms such as Instagram perpetuates this feeling. [3] Thus, when we receive a lot of likes we feel happy and when we don’t it is easy to feel sad. The desire for likes can be dangerous, leading us down a path of fabricating a digital self that posts what we believe people would like, rather than what we like ourselves.

A person takes a photograph of a cup of coffee on their smartphone

It’s common for us to question the quality of our posts based on the number of likes we receive. (Source)

A way to combat this is to create a safe and inclusive platform such as a “finsta”. Finstas are defined as “fake Instagrams”, or alternate accounts that people use in addition to their “main” account; however, they can be used for purposes of authenticity rather than fakeness. Finsta accounts allow for the creation of a small community that includes people we trust and respect with our personal or private posts. A psychological study showed that “through the idea of intimate reconfiguration, finsta users re-purpose an existing and widely-used social platform to create opportunities for more meaningful and reciprocal forms of social support.” [4] When posting to a large community of followers, it is easy to get caught up with likes and even easier to lose yourself in pursuit of building a digital self you believe everyone will like. On the other hand, when you create this smaller community, even if your pictures receive fewer likes, you are really posting for yourself and no one else, so the likes don’t matter as much. As indicated by one of the research participants in the study that utilizes a finsta, “it’s a place where you can share with several friends or just the people that you feel will understand you.” [5] Therefore, the posts on finstas can sometimes be more authentic and honest. However, the fact of the matter is that we will always care to a certain extent about the likes we receive and how other people view us. It is up to us to find ways to create the truest digital versions of ourselves.

3.) If you looked at your digital self in the mirror, would you recognize it?

A woman holds up a piece of glass. Her eye is visible in the reflection.

If you looked at your digital self in the mirror, would you recognize it? (Source)

We all have a digital self that we project onto the digital world, whether we like it or not, and whether we do so intentionally or not. In real life you show different versions of yourself to your friends, family, and coworkers. On social media, it is also easy to project a different identity on different platforms. Do you notice how differently you are presented on each of your digital platforms? The article “Look at Me! Look at Me! Instagramming an Altered Version of Ourselves” looks into this with more depth.

According to Child Mind Institute, “teenage and young adult users who spend the most time on Instagram, Facebook and other platforms were shown to have a substantially higher rate (from 13 to 66 percent) of reported depression than those who spent less time.” [6] It can be argued that the act of keeping up with our digital selves is impacting this. Furthermore, if we are all just posting things on social media we think other people will like, aren’t we all just further perpetuating a toxic cycle of social comparison?

If we place more focus on branding our digital self, our ordinary selves and experiences are affected. According to Psychology.com, “if we are unable to take control in defining our digital self, then we become increasingly more dependent on this digital reality.” [7] When out for lunch with family, if we get lost in taking photos of our food or replying to text messages from friends, how does that impact the experience we are having in the moment? Keeping up with our digital selves should not occur at the expense of our “real” selves and experiences. To read more about the benefits of social media detoxing, check out this article “Digital Detox – How I am Dealing with the Information Overload”.

A dog sits in front of a cafe window, behind which two women are sitting at a table together

Keeping up with our digital selves should not occur at the expense of our “real” selves and experiences. (Source)

What is one way you can cultivate a more aligned digital self? Make sure that the digital self that you see in the mirror is someone you recognize. If it’s not, then find the time to do the following exercise to brainstorm ways you can become more authentically “you”, both in and out of social media. Grab a piece of paper and draw two circles. In one circle, write all the things you like to do and what you think represents you – for example, photography, running and family. In another circle, draw all of the things you share on social media – food, fashion, politics – whatever it may be. Now, with a blue colored pencil, line up the similarities. With a green colored pencil, circle the factors that aren’t represented. Now, look at the visual diagram you have created for yourself – do you have more differences than similarities? Why is that? Are there things you share on social media that you don’t necessarily align with in daily life or things you wish to embody in real life? It is up to you to decide whether there is an important difference in what you share and what you don’t share, and whether this is impacting the way in which you are representing yourself. Maybe there are some things you’d rather not share, but the root of why is important to consider in this case. Is it for privacy reasons or because you are scared of what people will think? For some, the lines will add up perfectly to how they want it to be, and for others not so much. In the end however, it is up to you to decide whether you are content with your social media usage and the digital self you have created.

Constantly asking ourselves these important question can bring more intentionality into our social media usage and our daily lives. We should always ask ourselves, “Why am I posting what I am posting?” and “Why am I using social media the way that I do?”. These questions represent only a small amount of reflection that can be done to create more intentional use of social media, however they can be a starting point. If we can try and remember that intention is important, likes aren’t everything and forming a relationship with our digital selves is helpful, maybe it can change the way we understand how the platform needs to be used for ourselves.

Have you thought about your intentions when using social media? How do you stay mindful when you’re online (and offline too)?

References

[1] Buchanan, M. (2017, June 19). Instagram and the impulse to capture every moment. Retrieved
February 17, 2021, from https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/instagram-and-the-impulse-to-capture-every-moment#:~:text=%E2%80%9COur%20mission%20is%20to%20capture,thirteen%20filters%2C%20and%20share%20them.

[2] Kissick, D. (2020, June 23). This time-management trick changed my whole relationship with time.
Retrieved February 17, 2021, from
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/magazine/pomodoro-technique.html

[3, 7] Understanding and creating your digital self. (2010, August 23). Retrieved February 17, 2021, from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-digital-self/201008/understanding-and-creating-your-digital-self

[4, 5] Xiao, S., Metaxa, D., Park, J., Karahalios, K., & Salehi, N. (2020, December 01). Random, messy,
Funny, raw: Finstas as intimate reconfigurations of social media. Retrieved February 17, 2021, from
https://experts.illinois.edu/en/publications/random-messy-funny-raw-finstas-as-intimate-reconfigurations-of-so

[6] Caroline Miller, editorial director of the Child Mind Institute. (2020, June 11). Does social
media cause depression? Retrieved February 17, 2021, from
https://childmind.org/article/is-social-media-use-causing-depression/

Written by Annika Marshall

Edited by Rachael Bradshaw

Featured Image: Person holding black phone photo by Robin Worrall via Unsplash License

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