The Value of Our Data
When you are on your Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter account, I am sure that you have most probably come across multiple advertisements and posts that link to your interests or liking. More even so with Political related posts that are closely-attached to your political ideologies. At first, we might think it is all a coincidence but instead, it is a design technique used by large media companies to catch your attention on different concepts to satisfy their clients. To see where you are most vulnerable or what emotionally encapsulates your sentiments or beliefs.
For today’s blog, we will review and discuss the importance of our data. Including how large companies can weaponize it against us through various tactics and social media techniques.
In our digitally expanding and growing economy, the spread of fake news, the exponential increase of internet trolls, and even online data breaches are happening Worldwide. The Philippines is no exception to this since we most probably had encountered either an internet troll or a fabricated news article on Facebook.
This happens for the sole purpose of disinformation. In determining a “fake” report, we can categorize it as either misinformation or disinformation. Misinformation is when the source is naturally false and organic in a sense. Disinformation, on the other hand, is orchestrated. It means the idea is carefully calculated and is focused solely on disseminating fake news.
Now let us ask, how is this dangerous? How is our data involved in this situation?
Well, it is dangerous in a manner where our data is weaponized and used against us without our knowledge. As simple as Facebook statuses, bio updates, connections, friendships, interests, and even our location can all be utilized to gain a potential supporter under a political campaign or other personal means/gains. A known example can be the Trump and Brexit campaign, which was supported and amplified by the underground works of Cambridge Analytica. Wherein thousands, if not millions of data were gathered from American voters to accomplish both political agendas during the 2016 election. This not only affects society but also democracy as a whole.
Rest assured, we must unquestionably protect our data — and to do this, we should be aware of the characteristics, indications, features, and other aspects that can help us identify online articles, posts, videos, and images that spark great interest in our beliefs and agendas. Additionally, fake news and internet trolls can be avoided and debunked as long as we do not interact with them and instead spread accurate and correct information to our friends and relatives who struggle to see the difference in these fabricated sources.
They cannot hold power over us if we demand and protect our right to proper and just information, which includes our right to safeguard our private information and data from companies who intend to use it against us. We cannot be treated as a commodity, but instead as people who have every right to privacy and legitimate information.
Sources:
Quilinguing, K. (2019, September 28). The problem with fake news: UP experts speak on the impact of disinformation on politics, society, and democracy. Retrieved from University of the Philippines website: https://www.up.edu.ph/the-problem-with-fake-news-up-experts-speak-on-the-impact-of-disinformation-on-politics-society-and-democracy/
Graham-Harrison, E., & Cadwalladr, C. (2018, March 17). Revealed: 50 million Facebook profiles harvested for Cambridge Analytica in major data breach. Retrieved December 19, 2020, from the Guardian website: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/17/cambridge-analytica-facebook-influence-us-election
Bueza, M. (2018, October 23). LIST: False news shared by PH-based pages taken down by Facebook. Retrieved December 19, 2020, from Rappler website: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/false-news-shared-philippine-based-pages-taken-down-facebook-october-2018
