When does the value of innovation outweigh the cost to our privacy?
Take a few minutes to review your activity guide from last class. Remind yourself what privacy concerns you identified for the app or website you chose.
Think about what data the company collected, who they shared it with, and whether anything surprised you. You will be connecting those observations to today's discussion.
As we watch the following video on facial recognition, take notes on the questions below. We will use your notes in the discussion that follows.
What are the benefits of facial recognition technology? What does it make more convenient or fun?
What privacy concerns does facial recognition raise?
Why would governments or businesses be particularly interested in this technology?
Watch for: benefits of the technology, privacy concerns it raises, and why governments and businesses find it valuable.
Share your notes with a partner and compare what each of you observed. You do not need to agree with one another.
What benefits did you note? What does this technology make more convenient or fun?
What privacy concerns did you identify?
Why would governments or businesses be interested in this technology?
Do you believe the privacy risks posed by facial recognition technology outweigh the benefits and convenience? Why or why not?
Consider the specific benefits and concerns from the video. Think about who controls the technology, who is affected, and whether you think those effects are acceptable.
As we watch the next video on location data, take notes on the questions below. This video raises a real legal case about how personal data can end up in unexpected hands.
What kind of data is being collected and shared?
Who is the "third party" in this situation?
Why does this case represent a tradeoff between privacy and security?
Watch for: what data is collected, who the third party is, and what is at stake in the privacy vs. security tradeoff.
Share your notes with a partner. Compare what you observed and discuss why the details matter.
What kind of data is this case about?
Who is the "third party"? Why does it matter that a third party held the data rather than law enforcement directly?
Why is this a tradeoff between privacy and security? What is gained, and what is lost?
Do you agree with the Supreme Court's ruling? Do you think it should apply to other kinds of data?
Think about the principle behind the ruling, not just the outcome. What kinds of data do you think deserve the same protection, and why?
Individually fill out page 3 of your activity guide. When you finish, discuss your responses with your partner. You do not need to agree with one another. If time allows, discuss with another group too.
Use what you learned from both videos and the discussions to support your responses. Think carefully about the tradeoffs involved and where you personally stand.
Our private data drives many computing innovations in ways we actually like: more convenient, personalized, and often "free" services. We pay with our data, and that tradeoff has real value on both sides.
Not every effect of a computing innovation is anticipated in advance. Data collected for one purpose can end up being used in ways the user never agreed to or expected.
This data can be used by companies, governments, or criminals in ways that threaten privacy. The same location data that helps you navigate can be used to track your movements without your knowledge.
The balance between innovation, privacy, and security is continually being debated. Legal and ethical concerns arise when computing innovations harm people or play a role in social and political issues. You are part of the generation that will shape those decisions.