Internet Policy
It is obvious from the article on Privacy on The Internet that our privacy had been breached long time ago following the fact that third-party developer implements platform to track user behaviors and make user information available for targeted advertising, there are links between Facebook and the government agencies, such as the police or the Central Intelligence Agencies (CIA), third party using user information through Facebook for phishing, data mining, and other malicious purposes, and more.
Americans have strived, fought, and various groups and activists have advocated for individual privacy on the Internet, but all efforts had fallen on deaf ears. Our privacy had been invaded and this cannot be easily abolished in this present world. Security threats and all forms of criminal acts, among others, are the major reasons Internet policy will remain strong against Internet privacy. Therefore, the more we give information about ourselves as we use the Internet, the more tracking devices are developed by thousands of websites. Hence, truth be told, there is nothing like a 100% perfect online privacy.
Basically, I’m not totally bothered about the information I share on the Internet. As a matter of fact, the meaning of the Internet is “International Network” which implies any information I provide on the Internet is viewed by many people notwithstanding the privacy policies they may have on their websites. Sometimes, the information provided has to pass through different departments for review, validation, and documentation. Although, some studies have shown that about 74% of Americans are concerned about having their personal information on Facebook and other social networking sites. But, when we remember that Facebook is a social network that takes us into the world for everyone to view our profile and access us easily, we are not supposed to be concerned. Moreover, we unintentionally in most cases, relinquish our privacy ourselves, many don’t know they do this. The more we use the Internet, the more we’re prone to giving up our privacy more significantly than the social network information, this therefore permits the National Security Agency (NSA) to access all our information whenever they want from their massive database.
I totally agree with Zukerberg’s statement. Even president Obama’s privacy bill of rights did not take a strong ground and success, according to the Atlantic. And due to security threats and the numerous digital bandits who could pilfer our personal information for their selfish interests, president Obama also gives us the choice to make between our privacy and national security, allowing the NSA to access this information as possible. Apparently, we don’t have to expect total privacy on the Internet. Therefore, this is just common sense, if Mark Zuckerberg justifies his relaxation with respect to Facebook privacy settings saying “privacy is no more a social norm, then he’s right! Privacy has no place on the Internet, if our personal information is put online, it had become a public record, which permits everyone to see it and then make use of it.
When I looked at my Facebook profile page, the information I have there is equivalent to what I could have on my curriculum vitae or resume. It contains my full name, birth name, nickname, real pictures and events I attended, my date of birth (year of birth hidden), gender, languages I speak, favorite quotes, religious views, the gender(s) I’m interested in, my political views, family and relationships information, full home address and even places I’ve lived in the past, work address, academic and work history, schools attended, my likes, dislikes, hobby, life events, map locations, contact information including phone numbers, neighborhood, email, other SNS, friends, check-in (cities and places I’ve visited), sports, music choices, movies, TV shows, interested books, apps, and games, groups I joined, pages I liked and the reviews I gave, notes, Instagram photos shared, and more. All this information can be accessed by over 2,000 friends on my friends list, besides, since I didn’t restrict my information to be seen by only my friends, more people I do not know can access this information. Finally, I do not know every single person that has access to this information, just only a handful of few friends, family, and acquaintances I know.