TEDtalks on Privacy, Online & Off

We are all threatened with immortality. Juan Enriquez explains, in his TEDtalk, how our digital footprint, or what he likes to call electronic tattoo, will far outlive our physical selves. Facial recognition technology has gotten exceedingly advanced and will only get better. He talk about the concerns of electronic tattoos and cleverly ties them into Greek mythologies. Enriquez compares the rock rolling up and down from the story of Sisyphus to our own reputation. You must be careful what you post as it will make your reputation fluctuate. He compares our loved ones to Eurydice and us to Orpheus, as he warns us to refrain from looking into their past. As a last warning, Enriquez tells us not to be like Narcissus so as to not fall in love with our reflection.

Catherine Crump's TEDtalk reveals shocking information about how law enforcement has been collecting data on all citizen's, not just one's who commit wrongdoings. With Automatic License Plate Readers, officers have scans of every car that passes by these hidden and abundant devices. This allows them to track any vehicles location. What's worse, the federal government has all of this information stored on a database. The government having access to this information feels violating and instills fear in how this information can be abused.

"Our telephones and the networks that carry our calls were wired for surveillance... first and foremost". Christopher Soghoian informs us in his TEDtalk that phone companies have provided easy access for governments to wiretap our phone calls. On the bright side, Silicon Valley companies have not. Those who own an iPhone and use the Messages or Facetime app are completely free from surveillance. This fact reassured me after beholding the terrifying realization that anyone's phone call can be surveilled by the government.

The problems that these speakers articulate, as well as my own fear of rapidly advancing AI, leads me to hope for laws or regulations protecting citizens from "immortality". 

6th Value of Free expression

 

Promoting tolerance is the sixth value of free expression, and it is the one that stands out to me the most. This value emphasizes the idea that the government should not classify what speech is “hate speech,” instead leaving it up to society to determine what is tolerable and what is not. While this approach can feel troublesome, especially when harmful or offensive ideas are expressed, I believe it ultimately reinforces tolerance by allowing individuals to learn from ideas they disagree with rather than suppressing them.

Speech in society is constantly evolving. Words, phrases, and perspectives that were once considered acceptable can become offensive over time, and ideas that are taboo may eventually be normalized. Because these social norms change from generation to generation, it would be nearly impossible for the government to fairly and consistently regulate speech without causing an uproar in society. Leaving these decisions to the public allows tolerance to grow as people asses what they value, what they reject, and how they respond to harmful expression.

The overarching reason this value appeals to me is my interest in consciousness and the idea that each person’s mind should be free to think differently. I would agree with the argument that protecting even hateful or offensive speech can make society more tolerant. When harmful ideas are expressed openly, they can be challenged openly. Diminishing those ideas does not eliminate them, it only drives them underground, where they cannot be examined or criticized. Free expression forces society to confront intolerance directly rather than pretending it does not exist.

However, this value also has an interesting dilemma for me. I often think about the livelihood of individuals who become publicly criticized or condemned by the masses for something harmful they have said. In many cases, their infamy becomes a lesson for society about what not to say. On one hand, people may unite against a “big bad” and even learn from the situation. On the other hand, the individual being scrutinized can become isolated, losing their reputation, job, and even people they hold dearly that are no longer supportive. While this response comes from society rather than the government, it demonstrates how powerful public judgment can be and people who face this problem can lose everything important to them.

Problems also arise from leaving these decisions entirely to the public because tolerance varies widely across the nation. What one group considers unacceptable hate speech, another group may see as assured and unproblematic. This inconsistency can create confusion and conflict, but it also reflects the reality of a diverse society. Promoting tolerance does not mean endorsing harmful speech, rather, it means trusting society to learn from each other’s mistakes.

Ultimately, promoting tolerance through free expression makes our society stronger. Through tolerance, society allows itself to growth and better its people who confront issues such as hate speech and use moral reflection to acknowledge it. While imperfect and often messy, this value protects the freedom of conscience and acknowledges that tolerance is something learned, not enforced.

Top 5 Sources of News

 

1. Microsoft Edge

I use Microsoft Edge as my browser. The articles on its homepage could be distracting, but it also keeps me updated and informed on topics I am interested in. Its algorithm has deduced me as a gamer and movie buff, so I find many alluring articles whenever I utilize a search engine. Besides the articles, I use Microsoft Edge whenever I have a question to ask the internet, it is a browser after all. I even use the Microsoft Edge app as the default search engine on my phone. While I enjoy the articles, I also am incentivized by Microsoft Edge rewards. Each time you search or do certain interactions and prompts through the website, you get rewards points to redeem prizes such as gift cards, sweepstakes, giveaways, etc.

2. Citizens App

The Citizens app is an accident/crisis tracker which I use primarily to stay safe in my area. Users can post on it similar to social media platforms, but in a serious manner to reach out for help or awareness. Citizens App also alerts me on striking incidents that happen nationally, similar to the effect of breaking news. This is very useful to me since it keeps me updated on major and significant crises/events happening in real time. Important information would be unbeknownst to me or take longer for me to receive without this app.

3. People News

I am subscribed to the People News mailing list. It keeps me updated on current events in celebrity culture. Whenever I check my inbox I conveniently keep up with major stories without actively searching for them. I use People News as a way to stay connected to pop culture, which often influences social conversations and online trends. Being informed through this source is not so important, but it serves as a reliable way for me to remain aware of widely discussed cultural moments.

4. TikTok

Although TikTok is a highly unreliable source of information, I find myself mindlessly believing some news on this platform without validating it. Due to its algorithm and short-form video format, information is presented quickly and often without sufficient context or verification. Most of the news content I encounter on TikTok revolves around minor drama or influencer-related controversies, but there are instances where more serious content can be harmful if presented with misinformation/disinformation. 

5. YouTube

I use YouTube the most frequently out of any of these sources. Although the majority of content I consume on this platform is purely for entertainment, I occasionally find videos that educate me on current situations that most news sources would also remark on. YouTube is available on all devices and at any time, and in doing so, has effectively replaced televised news for me. Creator bias is something to be weary of on this platform, however, I enjoy the variety of voices and beliefs rather than the strict, slim array of ideals in televised news programs.