Case Study 13
Axe 5
Objet d'étude 1
You are your data
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Create a poster to raise awareness on data privacy.
You are part of ConnectLab, a research group studying digital practices and online privacy. As part of a public awareness campaign, your team has been asked to create a poster explaining how everyday digital tools collect personal data, how this data can be used or misused, and why protecting privacy has become a major issue today. Your poster should inform the public and offer practical advice.
You are part of ConnectLab, a research group studying digital practices and online privacy. As part of a public awareness campaign, your team has been asked to create a poster explaining how everyday digital tools collect personal data, how this data can be used or misused, and why protecting privacy has become a major issue today. Your poster should inform the public and offer practical advice.
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1
Digital footprints
angt-cs13-step1.mp3
You argue that a person's digital footprint offers a window into every aspect of their life. What do you mean by that [...]?
Digital footprints are the traces we leave as we interact with technology. We generate millions of them every day. These include the traces that we intentionally put out there: things we post on social media, people we follow on LinkedIn, our Spotify playlists, and our Pinterest pages. Such interactions announce who we are, and social scientists call these “identity claims.”
But there are other digital footprints too: they're the traces we leave without really thinking about it. These are called “behavioral residue.” They're created as we interact with technology – when we swipe our credit cards, search on Google, shop online, accept cookies, or use smartphone apps that generate GPS data. [...] Each of those data points represents a little puzzle piece of who we are, and once you put the pieces together, they provide intimate insight into our lives.
Digital footprints are the traces we leave as we interact with technology. We generate millions of them every day. These include the traces that we intentionally put out there: things we post on social media, people we follow on LinkedIn, our Spotify playlists, and our Pinterest pages. Such interactions announce who we are, and social scientists call these “identity claims.”
But there are other digital footprints too: they're the traces we leave without really thinking about it. These are called “behavioral residue.” They're created as we interact with technology – when we swipe our credit cards, search on Google, shop online, accept cookies, or use smartphone apps that generate GPS data. [...] Each of those data points represents a little puzzle piece of who we are, and once you put the pieces together, they provide intimate insight into our lives.
You say that all these data traces make us vulnerable to psychological targeting. What does that mean, and how can it happen?
On a basic level, the way I think about psychological targeting is that it describes the ability that algorithms have to decode our minds. The data in our digital footprints can be used to make inferences about who we are and how we feel, think, and behave. This includes not only inferences about where we shop or eat or travel but also inferences about deeper psychological dispositions: our personality, our values, our political ideology, our sexual orientation. [...]
But the second stage of psychological targeting – which to me is the more interesting part – is that once I understand who you are, I can use that data to potentially change the course of your life. I can try to influence you and decide what information I want to give you. [...]
If someone's personal data gets into the wrong hands, it can open the door to a whole new level of discrimination.
On a basic level, the way I think about psychological targeting is that it describes the ability that algorithms have to decode our minds. The data in our digital footprints can be used to make inferences about who we are and how we feel, think, and behave. This includes not only inferences about where we shop or eat or travel but also inferences about deeper psychological dispositions: our personality, our values, our political ideology, our sexual orientation. [...]
But the second stage of psychological targeting – which to me is the more interesting part – is that once I understand who you are, I can use that data to potentially change the course of your life. I can try to influence you and decide what information I want to give you. [...]
If someone's personal data gets into the wrong hands, it can open the door to a whole new level of discrimination.
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Step 1
1
Read the text. What are digital footprints? Give examples of intentional footprints and unintentional footprints mentioned.
2
Explain in your own words what psychological targeting is.
3
What are the potential dangers if personal data is misused?
Action!
As preliminary research for your project, list examples of your own digital footprints. What personal information could they reveal about you?
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2
Take control, protect your data!
“Secrets in Your Data”, PBS, 2024.
Vidéo associée
From 26:10 to 32:36Ressource affichée de l'autre côté.
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Step 2
1
What does Matt Mitchell mean when he says that “privacy isn't a switch; it's a dial”?
2
List the tools or actions that could reduce data collection by online platforms.
3
According to Eva Galperin, why are third-party cookies a problem for users' privacy?
Action!
Make a checklist of four practical ways to protect your online privacy.
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Step 3
1
Listen from 0:00 to 1:31. List the devices or apps mentioned. How do they track or influence brain activity?
2
Listen from 4:22 to 6:35. Pick out examples of possible benefits of neurotechnology.
3
According to Nita Farahany, what makes brain data different from other forms of personal data?
4
Listen from 12:40 to 14:19. What does she suggest to protect people from the risks of neurotechnology?
Action!
Write three messages for your posters: warnings or slogans explaining why protecting privacy is essential.
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Ready...
- Gather your notes on how personal data is collected, the potential risks it creates, and the solutions suggested in the documents.
Steady...
- Plan your poster layout and decide what key points, examples, messages, and visuals to include.
Go!
- Create your poster with clear explanations, practical advice, warning messages, and slogans about protecting privacy.
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