Steve Rubel Says There Is No Right to Privacy | Big Think

TL;DR

Privacy awareness is lacking, a significant event may be needed to spark change.

Transcript

you're assuming as a notion of privacy I mean I was with a publisher of a major news media site today and we were talking about privacy and you know he we were saying that if we went out in the street and you asked 100 people about about privacy or cookies or whatever they wouldn't even know I mean it just so I think the vast majority of people eve... Read More

Key Insights

• 🖤 Privacy awareness is lacking even among educated individuals.
• 💖 A significant event may be needed to spark a shift in privacy consciousness.
• 🪡 Google is commended for its data export options, while other platforms may need to improve in this area.
• ❓ The comparison to terrorism awareness post-9/11 highlights the potential impact of a major privacy breach.
• 🤗 Users need more control over their data to take privacy into their own hands.
• 👤 Transparency and data export capabilities are crucial for user trust.
• 😮 The privacy landscape may evolve as user expectations for data control rise.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do many people lack awareness of the data collected about them for targeted ads?

The interviewee suggests that people, even educated ones, are generally unaware of the data being collected and how it is used for targeting, both positively and negatively. Privacy issues like cookies or data usage by websites are often overlooked.

Q: How does the comparison to 9/11 relate to privacy awareness?

The speaker believes that a significant event, like a major data breach affecting many people or a breach involving a government or major bank, may be necessary to shake people into taking privacy seriously, similar to the impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on awareness and security measures.

Q: How does Google handle data export compared to other platforms?

Google is praised for allowing users to easily export or delete almost any data they have put into the platform. However, other platforms like Facebook may not offer the same level of transparency, especially when it comes to exporting contact information or photos.

Q: Are there instances of companies engaging in nefarious activities with collected data?

The speaker does not mention any specific nefarious companies but points out that such actions would likely be exposed quickly. The focus is more on the lack of awareness regarding the data being collected without users' knowledge.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Many people, including the educated, lack awareness of the data collected about them for targeting.

• Privacy issues may only gain attention after a significant event, similar to the impact of 9/11 on terrorism awareness.

• Google allows easy data export, but other platforms may need to improve transparency.