Privacy is Dead

Mission

With the world's technologies shaping our lives, it is hard to have anonymity. It seems like every human being is constantly in contact with another. Whether it is texting on a cell phone during the last five minutes of class or sending comments back and forth via social networking groups, such as myspace, people are always thirsting for communication. These lines of communication may seem like a personal connection between two or a few people, but these mediums are, in many cases, fair game to those who desire to get the information. From fraudsters to the American Government, what we think is secure and private is actually an open canvas to be tampered with and spread about the world of informational flow.

Privacy is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as the quality or state of being apart from company or observation : seclusion b: freedom from unauthorized intrusion <one's right to privacy.

Video Surveillance
Video Surveillance has significantly increased since September 11ths terrorist attacks. However, how would putting video cameras throughout public spaces stop a terrorist attack? In actuality the reason for the video cameras is to prevent crimes of a much smaller degree such as auto break ins or robberies. Studies have shown that in Great Britain where video cameras have been largely installed in public spaces crime has not been reduced. Studies have also shown that the people who are monitoring these cameras become extremely tired and bored after as little as 20 minutes they’re attention to the cameras becomes extremely low.

Another problem with surveillance systems is criminal abuse, institutional abuse, personal abuse, discriminatory abuse, discriminatory targeting, and voyeurism (studies show that 1 in 10 women are targeted for voyeuristic reasons). There is also a problem with the lack of controls on camera use. Due to the rapid speed of technology advancements it is difficult to keep checks and balances and often times when surveillance cameras are put into effect for certain purposes they often expand into other uses.

Video Surveillance cameras will eventually put a huge effect on the way we act in public. With the increasing knowledge of these cameras people will begin to think about the way they are dressed in public, what books and magazines they purchase and what their actions may be viewed as by others.

Online Privacy and E-commerce
Online Privacy in E-commerce is a major issue we face today in the world. E-commerce has practically taken over as the new way to do business. Just about every company that offers a product in a store also offers that product online to purchase. With people becoming lazier and wanting things done faster in today’s world, it is easy to make a mistake when it comes to shopping online. When you are purchasing a product online it seems that they want every piece of information about you. By giving out you name, address, telephone number, along with your credit card number it makes you vulnerable for your information to get into the wrong hands.

Some of the problems that we see today are with internet scams such as phishing or emails being sold to third parties, which are becoming more common. People are just not being smart when it comes to e-commerce because with new technology comes new threats in this age. We as consumers expect our identity to be private and secure, but as you see now that is always not the case. There are many website out there such as, http://www.safeshopping.org/, that was created by the American Bar Association to help consumers order safely online when making a purchase. But not all shoppers take that extra step when it comes time to purchase.

Many sites have a yellow padlock symbol on the bottom of the screen to indicate to the customer that it is a secure or not secure website. If the yellow padlock is unlocked then that should be a red flag for you as a consumer not to buy from that site because it is unsecure. If the padlock is locked then you can buy with confidence knowing that your private information will be secured. Another way to tell if the website you are on is secure is if in the address bar an “s” appears right after the http:// in the web address. That is another sure way to tell if the website is secure or not. You should always read the website’s privacy and security policies before you purchase something from their site and always keep or print a copy of your receipt after you purchased a product that way you’ll always have proof of purchase.

Always check your credit card bills thoroughly every month for charges that you did not make. If you do find charges that were not made by you immediately contact the credit card company to handle the dispute and always have your receipt on hand to verify what, when, and from whom you purchase that product from. You should also order your credit report at lease once a year, if you shop online, so you can be one step ahead of anybody threatening your online privacy when it comes to e-commerce. Last, always remember when something seems too good to be true, it probably is, so take the steps necessary to protect yourself online.

Financial Privacy
Financial privacy is something that everybody needs to be educated on. With today’s world becoming more technologically advanced, personal checks and deposit slips are becoming more obsolete. Since 2002 online banking has increased 47%[1]. Now, don’t you think that hackers and con-artist are already thinking abut how they are going to obtain your information without you knowingly? Hackers do this by security breaches or inside jobs where laptops are stolen and obtain information containing customer records. They also then have access to personal account numbers and funds.

As you can see your privacy is also in danger when it comes to your money. Financial privacy is a huge issue today as we face this communication age. In 1999 the Financial Modernization Act[2], which is also known as Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The GLB Act was designed to protect consumers’ personal financial information held by financial institutions. The GLB requires three things from your financial institution that is your rights under this act. First is your privacy policy, which requires your financial institution to tell you what kind of information they collect on you and how they use it. The second is the right to Opt – Out, which is when your financial institution must explain to you as the customer your ability to prevent the sale of your data to a third party. Last is safeguard, which requires your financial institution to develop policies to avoid unauthorized access to your personal financial data.

Financial privacy is something that financial institutions will have to deal with for years coming. They will be spending millions in the years to come to improve technology and improve security when it comes to your privacy. It is easy to suggest how technology is growing that eventually all of our transactions will be done electronically someday. It’s going to be our job along with the financial institutions to help protect our privacy and provide quality service at the same time.

 

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
Radio Frequency Identification tags are specially coded pieces of cloth, they can be no bigger then a tiny piece of glitter. An RFID can be applied to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification. RFID tags are transmitted through antennaes from several yards away.The tag's antenna picks up signals from an RFID reader or scanner and then returns the signal, usually with some additional data (like a unique serial number or other customized information)[3]. Radio Frequency Identification tags allow companies to track an individual product by providing a reading unique to that product. They are usful in improving shipping accuracy and cutting down on fraud or theft in transit.

These tags are the basis of over 6,000 patents filed for items such as wireless payments, cosmetics mixing, keyless entries, laundry tracking, patient monitoring in a hospital, the U.S. department of defense and much more. 

Real ID
The REAL ID act was created in 2005 and it was an act for defense on the global war on terror. REAL ID is a nationwide effort intended to prevent terrorism, reduce fraud, and improve the accuracy and consistency of identification documents that the State governments issue. The September 11th Commission suggested that the U.S. upgrade its system for issuing identification documents that are secure. The Commission said “At many entry points to vulnerable facilities, including gates for boarding aircraft, sources of identification are the last chance to ensure that people are who they say they are and to check whether or not they are terrorists.” Particularly, the Commission advised the federal government to “set standards for the issuance of…sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.” Congress’ response to this recommendation was passing the Real ID Act. The REAL ID Act requires that a REAL ID driver’s license be used for “official purposes,” as defined by DHS. In the proposed rule, DHS is anticipating to set a limit on the official purposes of a REAL ID license to only those listed by Congress in the law: which are accessing a Federal facility; boarding Federally-regulated commercial aircraft; and entering nuclear power plants. DHS is also considering expanding these official purposes through future rulemakings to capitalize on the security benefits of REAL ID[4].