At What Point do "Likes" and "Dislikes" Also Become Personal Information Along With the Rest of Our Digital Footprints?
We’ve talked about how life in a contactless world is leading to a new wellspring of digital data. The definition of what’s “personally identifiable information” could and should undergo more examination as our digital vapor trail begins to represent our lives in increasing detail.
The threats posed by this phenomenon aren’t limited to malicious actors launching more sophisticated phishing scams. Increasingly, it isn’t just people using that data to influence us, it’s robots—unthinking algorithms on e-commerce sites, search engines and social media are continually categorizing our behavior to where it seems they can read our minds.
From the algorithm’s point of view, this is a natural and helpful way to deliver content that people are looking for. But there is a dawning realization of the potential danger posed by these bits of code, written by humans to steer other humans.
The concept itself isn’t new. In 2017 the Pew Research Center wrote about the effects of algorithms, their benefits and their risks, introducing the study with this declarative abstract:
Algorithms are aimed at optimizing everything. They can save lives, make things easier and conquer chaos. Still, experts worry they can also put too much control in the hands of corporations and governments, perpetuate bias, create filter bubbles, cut choices, creativity and serendipity, and could result in greater unemployment.”
This an interesting statement to look back on today, having watched many of those darker possibilities become reality around the world. With severe political and cultural polarization p ..
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