John Cheney-Lippold Interview - We Are Data

Summary

The transcript explores the complex world of data privacy, focusing on how data brokers collect and sell personal information to different entities like banks, companies, and individuals. It discusses the EU's 'right to be forgotten,' highlighting how data can persist even after being deleted. The conversation also touches on hidden data tracking methods, such as Uber's location tracking, and examines the positive uses of data, like Google's attempt to predict flu outbreaks. The discussion provides a balanced view of the pros and cons of personal data collection and its far-reaching implications.

Takeaways

• 😀 Data collected from users is often sold to various entities, including banks, advertisers, and even personal contacts like fathers or potential romantic partners.
• 😀 Different entities look for different types of information, depending on their needs, such as creditworthiness or personal behavior analysis.
• 😀 Data brokers are companies that collect vast amounts of personal data and sell it to interested parties, potentially for profit, targeting specific audience groups.
• 😀 A simple search, like for a hockey game, can reveal a lot about a person, including their interests, preferences, and even demographic characteristics.
• 😀 In the European Union, citizens have the 'Right to Be Forgotten,' meaning they can request Google to remove harmful or outdated links about them, but this doesn't erase the data from the entire internet.
• 😀 In the U.S., the 'Right to Be Forgotten' does not exist, leaving people with limited control over their online presence and history.
• 😀 Deleted data might still exist in hidden places, such as in email servers or hidden storage, which can sometimes be recovered long after deletion.
• 😀 Uber's covert tracking of users' locations after app deletion highlights how companies may collect and sell data even when users think their personal information is no longer accessible.
• 😀 The digital age allows for massive data collection, with even small, seemingly insignificant pieces of data being used in ways users might not expect.
• 😀 While concerns around privacy and data usage are valid, data collection can also be used for positive outcomes, such as predicting health trends or preventing outbreaks like the flu.
• 😀 The complexity of modern data storage and retrieval systems means that what users delete may still be accessible, even if they are unaware of how it can be retrieved or by whom.

Q & A

What challenges arise from data privacy when crossing sovereign borders?

When crossing digital borders, data becomes subject to various national laws. This can lead to complexities, as information about individuals might be accessed or governed by laws from multiple countries, which can impact privacy and data usage.

How do data brokers collect and sell personal information?

Data brokers gather vast amounts of personal data through various channels, including online behavior and transactions. They then sell this data to businesses, credit agencies, or even individuals looking for specific information, like fathers checking on potential suitors for their daughters.

What is the right to be forgotten, and how does it apply to data removal?

The right to be forgotten, primarily established in the European Union, allows individuals to request the removal of certain data about them from search engines, such as Google. However, this only removes links from specific platforms like Google, and the data may still exist elsewhere on the internet.

Why is it difficult to truly erase deleted data?

Even if a user deletes data, it may still exist in hidden layers of systems or databases, accessible to companies or other entities. This is due to the way data is stored and how complex systems can retain information behind the user interface, making complete deletion challenging.

What was the controversy around Uber's data tracking after app deletion?

Uber was found to continue tracking users' locations even after they deleted the app. They used techniques to avoid detection, such as hiding location data from Apple’s verification systems, revealing how companies can still gather valuable data even when users believe they've opted out.

Are there any positive uses of personal data collection?

Yes, personal data collection can have beneficial applications, such as predicting public health trends. For example, Google's Flu Trends used search data to predict flu outbreaks, potentially enabling earlier interventions and reducing the spread of illness.

How do data brokers use seemingly harmless data to make inferences about a person?

Data brokers can analyze even small pieces of information, such as a person searching for a hockey game, to infer characteristics like interests or lifestyle choices. When combined with other data points, these insights can be valuable for targeted marketing or other purposes.

What is the role of data brokers in the digital economy?

Data brokers play a crucial role in the digital economy by collecting and selling data to various companies. Their ability to aggregate vast amounts of information from multiple sources allows businesses to target their audience more effectively, influencing everything from advertising to credit scoring.

How does the right to be forgotten differ between the EU and the US?

In the EU, individuals have a legal right to request the removal of certain data from search engines and websites, known as the right to be forgotten. However, in the US, no such law exists, meaning individuals have fewer legal avenues to remove personal data from the internet.

Can data collected for one purpose, such as health monitoring, be used for other unrelated purposes?

Yes, data collected for specific purposes, like monitoring health, can be repurposed for other uses, often without the user's full awareness. This raises ethical concerns about consent and the scope of data usage.