Privacy – Catherine's Comments

An image of a blue shield with a red lock on it to demonstrate internet security

Source: vectorjuice / Freepik

“Based on your interests and/or workplace context, after exploring some of the above resources, reflect on your new learning about one of the above areas of concern (in terms of your possible work as an information professional) in a 350 word post in your learning journal.”

Like many of my millennial peers, we know Google and Facebook sell our personal information, and slightly sheepishly, I agreed with the students in Crocco et al. (2020): “It’s not like they’re selling your data to dangerous people” with the belief that data collection is the necessary tradeoff for having access to free websites. Grudgingly, I need to admit it goes beyond just being spammed with ads for shoes; data sharing can threaten democracy, as seen in targeted advertising during election campaigns (Dommett et al., 2023).

In both Crocco et al. (2020) and Marino’s (2021) articles, I found it interesting that the responsibility for keeping data private is on the user, not the provider. To some extent, I have taken steps to do this. I have the Ghostery extension on my laptop, a free, open-source ad blocker that prevents tracking. I also turn off personalisation and location history in my Google account. But how to achieve this if using a public library PC?

I visited my own library’s website to view their stance on responsibility. “We can’t guarantee the security of your information on our systems, and you are responsible for any losses resulting from information accessed via our resources. ” (Libraries Tasmania, n.d.).

The American Library Association (ALA) states “Many websites track user behavior and share data with third parties via cookies and other technologies. The library should provide browsers and plugins that offer privacy protections when surfing the Web. In addition, browsers should be configured to clear all data (cache, history, cookies, passwords) upon exit” (ALA, 2018). Comparing this to Australia’s library body, the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), it does not mention tracking and data surveillance as part of their 2021 Standards and Guidelines for Australian Public Libraries which may be why Libraries Tasmania does not go into much detail on the subject.

Curious, I checked the cookies used on the LT homepage. Eight sites were identified, all analytics tools from companies LT uses to create, host or share on their website. While the insights gathered would assist with improving the user experience, the question is where the data is being used outside of LT

(359 words).

Screenshot of the Ghostery app which includes text showing eight tracking cookies have been detected

Screenshot from Ghostery based on www.libraries.tas.gov.au

References

American Library Association. (2018). Library privacy guidelines for public access computers and networks. American Library Association. (2018). Library privacy guidelines for public access computers and networks. Library Privacy Guidelines for Public Access Computers and Networks – Choose Privacy Every Day

Crocco, M. S., Segall, A., Halvorsen, A.-L., Stamm, A., & Jacobsen, R. (2020). “It’s not like they’re selling your data to dangerous people”: Internet privacy, teens, and (non-)controversial public issues. Journal of Social Studies Research, 44(1), 21-33.

Dommett, K., Barclay, A., & Gibson, R. (2023). Just what is data-driven campaigning? A systematic review. Information, Communication & Society, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2023.2166794

Libraries Tasmania. (n.d.) Computers and internet access. https://libraries.tas.gov.au/public-libraries/computers-internet-access/

Marino, B. (2021). Privacy concerns and the prevalence of third-party tracking cookies on ARL library homepages. Reference Services Review, 49(2), 115-131. https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-03-2021-0009

Me and my shadow. (n.d.). Take control of your data. https://myshadow.org/

“Based on your exploration, try to summarise in 400 words what you know and think about the influence of technology on society in general and specifically on organisations. What are some of the main points organisations have to consider that they may not have had to consider in the past?”

Cartoon drawing of young woman with brown hair getting annoyed while sitting at a computer with a cup of tea and a notepad.

Source: Pixabay

I have experienced the evolution of technology firsthand, from a clunky, shared computer in primary school to a smartphone that enables constant connectivity to the world around me through Web 2.0. Our devices are getting smarter, but our expectations for what technology must achieve are increasing. At the bare minimum, organisations must have a webpage that is easily identifiable in search engine results, provides easy communication, and has a social media page. For the 85.4% of Australians that use a smartphone to search the Internet (Consuegra, 2023), websites must also have the functionality to be viewed on different-sized devices or risk clients closing your page in favour of a competitor.

As well as expectations from technology users as to what organisations should be providing for them, service providers are increasingly moving their operations online (such as Centrelink, Telstra or any bank) and expecting their clients to all have access to a computer and have digital skills to complete the tasks required of them such as an uploading a form or paying a bill. The reality that I see every day working in a public library is that people are being left behind as the technology is not accessible to them. This “digital divide” was also highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic when students sat in cars outside shopping centres to access Wi-Fi to attend their online classes.

Moving services online can save organisations money as computers pick up more of the work but there are safety risks involved with having enormous amounts of people’s data on the internet, just ask Optus or Medibank. Organisations must provide security for clients’ financial and personal details and have a clear policy on how they store (or sell) these details to third parties.

The influence of technology on interpersonal skills is concerning, I believe it has lowered people’s ability to communicate verbally due to the prevalence of email and instant messaging. Organisations need to consider how they communicate with their clients in a world where one misstep can be broadcast over social media and their reputation destroyed. Is their messaging inclusive, can is be understood by people with English as a second language? Are there assistive technologies available to help people interact with an organisation? Users expect technology to be accessible to them and make their lives easier, not harder, and I think organisations need to consider that to be effective.

(396 words)

References

Consuegra, H. (2023). Australian mobile data usage statistics 2023. Red Search. https://tinyurl.com/yc342c9b

Category: Privacy

OLJ Task 14 – Areas of concern – Privacy and security

OLJ Task 2 – The influence of technology on society