Blown to Bits Chapter 2 Talking Points

• Why is the chapter titled "Naked in the Sunlight?"

• Pervasive use of cameras

  • What had you not thought of before?
  • What current day scenarios did you think of when you read the examples given?

• GPS

• Thoughts on tracking locations?

• RFID tags

  • Do you want stores to tell you they use them?
  • What details would you want to know about how they use them?
  • What would you do if you knew?

• EDRs

  • Thoughts on them being in every car made?
  • Why would the federal government require this?

• Unknown fingerprints

  • Printer codes:
    • Why are they there?
    • At what cost?

• Parking garages

  • Thoughts on taking a picture of your license plate?

• Hazards of selling data

  • Is anything ever truly de-identified enough to be safe?
  • Do you think about the information companies are collecting about you?

• Loss of privacy

  • Why are we willing to sacrifice our privacy to:
    • Save time?
    • For convenience?
    • For a bargain?
    • For fun?
  • What are some "conveniences" that you have favored over privacy?

• How do you feel about the comment: "Bits don't fade and they don't yellow. Bits are forever. And we don't know how to live with that." (26 PDF #)

• Public documents now on the Internet?

• Helpful or harmful?

• Microphones on cell phones, in your car, Alexa, etc.

  • Helpful or harmful?
  • Do you ever feel like your phone is listening to you? When? How does it feel?

• National IDs

  • For or against them?

• Two big brothers

  • Government
  • Businesses

Technology change and lifestyle change Credit card culture Email culture Web culture

• Privacy and freedom

  • Three social roles of privacy (48-49 PDF pages)
  • Fair Information Practice Principles
  • How well is privacy legislated in the U.S.?

• Always on… at what cost?

  • Do you want to disconnect from the "constant watch" of modern technology?