Posting Secrets: The Paradox of Online Privacy

POSTING SECRETS
The Paradox of Online Anonymity and Privacy
TL Hines | MLA Offline Conference | February 20, 2010

TODAY’S SECRET AGENDA
The human need for anonymity
Anonymity meets technology
The good, the bad, the ugly
The paradox of online privacy
Discussion

WHO IS THIS GUY?
I’m TL Hines. I write weird stuff.
My post secret: I’m also an online addict.
Most recent book features an online spammer who steals identities.

SECRECY, ANONYMITY, HUMANITY
An innate desire for secrecy...and yet, an innate desire to see and share.
Voyeuristic & vicarious = gossip, the very nature of celebrity in our culture.
Confessional and cleansing = relief, the basis of 12-step programs and modern therapy.

THE ONLINE SECRET SOCIETY
Sites dedicated to anonymity: PostSecret, 4Chan, Something Awful, etc.
Wikis, blogs, forums, comments, email addresses
Pseudonyms: Role Players, Posers, NotIdentities

AND WHAT’S SO WRONG WITH THAT?
Nothing. Once again, it fulfills human needs to confess, and to live vicariously.
Lets people ask and learn without shame or embarrassment.
Healthy exercise of imagination = act out fantasies, create art/satire, connect with others.

COME TO THE DARK SIDE, LUKE.
Online anonymity = the death of civility?
The “troll” effect; the Godwin Law.
Defamation, slander and libel = easier than ever.
The fine line between fascination and fixation.

GOING OFF THE DEEP END.
Phishing, malware, adware, identity theft.
Online harassment, predators, and stalking.
Immune in Montana? Hello, DA Davidson = info from 226,000 customers compromised.

THE PRIVACY PARADOX.
On the one hand, the anonymity of the Internet makes us feel more secure, encourages us to be more “vulnerable.”
On the other hand, technology is eroding—not enhancing—our privacy.

SEARCH ON WITH GOOGLE
A clever Super Bowl ad that shows how pervasive Google has become.

DO YOU KNOW THIS MAN?
Old school techniques = Anonymous for 20+ years. Technology = Identified in 24 hours.

BUT...
How many secret documents are floating around with your name attached?

UNMASKED BY GOOGLE
“ Secret” blogger revealed after a defamation lawsuit.

BUT...
Google and ISPs would just as willingly hand over records of your web activity.

MYFAKESPACE: HARASSMENT
13-year-old killed herself due to harassment from Lori Drew on a fake account.

BUT...
This case set a precedent, making it illegal to have a “fake” identity.

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE...
Simple Google search = Your address and phone. More detail: ID reports ($15).
Current photos and information: you and your family/associates.
Satellite and street views of your home.
Geotagged mobile photos: I can see inside your home.

OH, BUT I’M TOO CAREFUL FOR THAT.
Your IP address gets logged, making your visits trackable.
Downloads remain “visible” even after you delete.
Cookies = History of your searches and activity.
You give up information about yourself to Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, etc.

IT GETS SCARIER.
Locational privacy is disappearing.
It’s not just the “Interwebs” now: mobile phones, public wi-fi, electronic swipe cards, electronic traffic signals, loyalty cards and credit cards can all give away your location.

IT GETS SCARIER.
Your insurance company could see how often you go to the health club. Or the doctor. Or therapy.
Your employer could see where you go at lunch. Did you have an interview at a competitor’s office?
Your ex could find out where you’re going on dates—and when you get home.

IS 2010 THE NEW 1984?
Yes. No. Maybe.

PRIVACY: SWIRLING THE DRAIN?
Low threshold for disclosure: it’s not difficult to subpoena records. (And let’s not even talk about hackers.)
Terms of Service are getting more invasive.
Automation of social media services such as Google Buzz: connections you might not realize.

STAY SAFE OUT THERE.
Browser setup: Fake ‘em out, track those cookies.
Set up an email account for signups and transactions. Keep your “real” email safe.
Look at privacy policies and Terms of Service.
Google yourself. Ask to have listings removed.

STAY SAFE OUT THERE.
Don’t use search engine email services (gmail or Yahoo).
Create a robots.txt file to exclude portions of your site from search engines.
Use a laptop.
Use a public computer.

QUESTIONS?
Thank you. Thank you very much.
www.tlhines.com

http://myedison.tesc.edu	9
http://blackboard.tesc.edu	2
http://lwayler.wordpress.com	2
http://www.slideshare.net	2
http://n00be.local:8888	1
http://staging.personafolio.com	1

Posting Secrets: The Paradox of Online Privacy

by TL Hines on Feb 20, 2010

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