Syntho_Magnetic
Member
Excellent example on the insurance company, dreamfinder, of how where there's a will and a scheming business mind, there's a way to profit from RFID at a cost to us.
Someone mentioned again the trade-off between what we give up for what Disney gives us. Banks even aren't always the best at keeping our data secure - but that's my life savings - so I can use a little biometric there maybe. A biometric for a Disney vacation? I'll pass.
I think the argument is a bit of a cop-out. Regarding the second paragraph, I don't want to live under a rock. I'm willing to trade certain privelages of living in a modern society for voluntarily giving up some privacy. I'm willing to apply for a driver's license so I can drive on public roads, and I'm willing to leave some traces of activity online in order to connect to people and vast information. I'm willing to walk in the park knowing some tourist or artist might take a photo with me in it.
Regarding using the Internet, the way you use it can vastly impact that. My university account now receives phisher e-mails asking for my password every two days now - ignoring those is a simple first step. I do use Facebook, but I don't put my phone number, address, or other critical info on there, I also have privacy engaged so only friends can read my profile. I also don't fill out those quizzes that have recently been linked to data mining or install any apps, which have been shown to have security issues. I clear my browser cookies before and after logging into Facebook after that ad-tracking fiasco and clear my cookies at least once a day.
I don't use any of the "big 4" search engines 95% of the time anymore, particularly Google, who keep IP and cookie linked records of all searches for the past 18 months, and thoroughly rolled-over for the U.S. government, not to mention the whole AOL privacy dump that the CIO resigned over. I use an SSL connection to Ixquick from now on, they don't track IPs, and they dump all data within 48 hours. I can even use their proxy to process image search results. Nobody but me, not even my ISP, knows what my web search queries are now.
https://ixquick.com
The more reasonable approach is to realize that yes, this stuff can happen, and just giggling over the irony that Amazon deleted 1984 from people's Kindles and Britain having more than 4 million CCTVs isn't a good approach. When Britain's PSCO's and police start hassling photographers to the point where tourists and citizens think-twice before snapping a photo in London, yet the British government feels the need to put CCTVs inside people's own homes, it's time to start standing up and saying "NO."
And before you sit down and take it, there are cases where there is hope. Case in point: Australia's government is currently doing trials with their ISPs to implement country-wide Internet filtering. The U.S. was at a similar precipice in 1996 with the Communications Decency Act, but the CDT, ACLU, EFF, and people like little-'ole-me stepped in and took it to the Supreme Court and stopped it then-and-there. Frighteningly, Australia appears headed the way of the United Arab Emirates or even China in regards to Internet freedom. But the point is, stopping these things can be done!
...but be warned: reversing these things can be darn-near-impossible (refer to the new U.S. administration on "preventative dentention," "war on photography," "patriot act," ...)
So get informed. Write letters, to businesses and representatives. Emails if you don't have the time. Just something. :wave:
I'm personally telling Disney - no biometrics whatsoever for me even if just a simple width/height measurement for now - no thanks. I'll just stick to coming once every 1-4 years if you insist on it.
Someone mentioned again the trade-off between what we give up for what Disney gives us. Banks even aren't always the best at keeping our data secure - but that's my life savings - so I can use a little biometric there maybe. A biometric for a Disney vacation? I'll pass.
You use the internet... There is more personal data compiled on you on a daily basis based on that than Disney could ever hope to amass. If you also use a cell phone, the personal data and locational information available on you increases significantly. Almost all of that data is readily available to anyone who knows how to get it. :shrug:
The only way to avoid data mining entirely is to eschew all forms of electronic commerce and live in a tent without electricity or connectivity of any kind and under sufficient top cover foliage to avoid detection by aircraft or satellites.
A more realistic approach is to accept that it is going to happen and mitigate any instances that come to light that have potential negative impact. If your insurance rates go up because of incorrect tracking information indicating risky behaviours, challenge the increase.
I think the argument is a bit of a cop-out. Regarding the second paragraph, I don't want to live under a rock. I'm willing to trade certain privelages of living in a modern society for voluntarily giving up some privacy. I'm willing to apply for a driver's license so I can drive on public roads, and I'm willing to leave some traces of activity online in order to connect to people and vast information. I'm willing to walk in the park knowing some tourist or artist might take a photo with me in it.
Regarding using the Internet, the way you use it can vastly impact that. My university account now receives phisher e-mails asking for my password every two days now - ignoring those is a simple first step. I do use Facebook, but I don't put my phone number, address, or other critical info on there, I also have privacy engaged so only friends can read my profile. I also don't fill out those quizzes that have recently been linked to data mining or install any apps, which have been shown to have security issues. I clear my browser cookies before and after logging into Facebook after that ad-tracking fiasco and clear my cookies at least once a day.
I don't use any of the "big 4" search engines 95% of the time anymore, particularly Google, who keep IP and cookie linked records of all searches for the past 18 months, and thoroughly rolled-over for the U.S. government, not to mention the whole AOL privacy dump that the CIO resigned over. I use an SSL connection to Ixquick from now on, they don't track IPs, and they dump all data within 48 hours. I can even use their proxy to process image search results. Nobody but me, not even my ISP, knows what my web search queries are now.
https://ixquick.com
The more reasonable approach is to realize that yes, this stuff can happen, and just giggling over the irony that Amazon deleted 1984 from people's Kindles and Britain having more than 4 million CCTVs isn't a good approach. When Britain's PSCO's and police start hassling photographers to the point where tourists and citizens think-twice before snapping a photo in London, yet the British government feels the need to put CCTVs inside people's own homes, it's time to start standing up and saying "NO."
And before you sit down and take it, there are cases where there is hope. Case in point: Australia's government is currently doing trials with their ISPs to implement country-wide Internet filtering. The U.S. was at a similar precipice in 1996 with the Communications Decency Act, but the CDT, ACLU, EFF, and people like little-'ole-me stepped in and took it to the Supreme Court and stopped it then-and-there. Frighteningly, Australia appears headed the way of the United Arab Emirates or even China in regards to Internet freedom. But the point is, stopping these things can be done!
...but be warned: reversing these things can be darn-near-impossible (refer to the new U.S. administration on "preventative dentention," "war on photography," "patriot act," ...)
So get informed. Write letters, to businesses and representatives. Emails if you don't have the time. Just something. :wave:
I'm personally telling Disney - no biometrics whatsoever for me even if just a simple width/height measurement for now - no thanks. I'll just stick to coming once every 1-4 years if you insist on it.
