the end of privacy as we know it?: the ethics of privacy on online social networks
DESCRIPTION
This presentation explores a thesis on the ethics of privacy on online social networks. The purpose of this thesis is to determine the ethical responsibilities of online social networks to protect privacy. Although the social norms of online privacy are in flux, online social networks must employ fair information practices by notifying users when private information is shared. They must give users the opportunity to refuse consent to share information and only use information for its intended purpose. Online social networks have slowly eliminated user control without receiving meaningful user consent to do so, therefore violating the user-service provider relationship. Online social networks have also used choice architecture and design against users to push them in the direction of sharing more information than they would otherwise. By eliminating user control, online social networks have slowly destroyed privacy through unethical means. *** 2010 Winner of Stanford University's Lyle and Olive Cook Prize for the best Ethics in Society honors thesis *** To find out more, go to www.cristinajcordova.com or contact Cristina Cordova at www.twitter.com/cristinacordovaTRANSCRIPT
THE END OF PRIVACY AS WE KNOW IT?: THE ETHICS OF PRIVACY ON ONLINE SOCIAL
NETWORKSCristina Cordova
Ethics in Society Honors ProgramMay 2010
PRIVACY IN THE NEWS
WHY?
WHY?
I aimed to determine the ethical responsibilities of online social networks to protect privacy.
WHAT?
I aimed to determine the ethical responsibilities of online social networks to protect privacy.
WHAT?
I aimed to determine the ethical responsibilities of online social networks to protect privacy.
WHAT?
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?
1. It’s your personal information
2. Your information may be shared with third parties (including personally identifiable information)
3. Third parties can keep your information for as long as they want
4. Many users joined when Facebook was private, assuming that Facebook would remain a private network
5. What will be made public next?
Privacy as Control Westin’s definition of “the claim of individuals, groups or institutions to
determine for themselves when, how and to what extent information about them is communicated to others” Autonomy Release from Publicity Self-Evaluation and Individual Decision-making Limited and Protected Communication
WHAT IS PRIVACY EXACTLY?
Privacy as Control
WHAT IS PRIVACY EXACTLY?
How is privacy on social networks different?
PRIVACY ON EMAIL AND E-COMMERCE
• Perceived Privacy• Trust• User Interface Design• Consequences
Facebook makes it hard for you to understand its policies
FACEBOOK’S PRIVACY POLICY
• Updated every few months • Read by very few users• Longer than the United States Constitution
FACEBOOK’S PRIVACY POLICY
Facebook opts users in to sharing information in ways they
may not want
October 2009 January 2010
DEFAULT: OPTED IN
Beacon
Instant Personalization
DEFAULT: OPTED IN
WHAT WAS PRIVATE IS NOW PUBLIC
CHOICE ARCHITECTURE
CHOICE ARCHITECTURE
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Facebook’s privacy settings are too complicated for users
NAVIGATING PRIVACY SETTINGS
?
DIFFICULT TO PRIVATIZE
EASY TO SHARE
BARRIERS TO USER CONTROL
WHY?
WHY?
Ethical Information Privacy Practices
ETHICAL INFORMATION PRIVACY PRACTICES
Notification
Use
ABUSE OF NOTIFICATION AND USE
ABUSE OF CHOICE AND SECURITY
Choice
Security
WHAT NOW?
Read my thesis online here: http://scr.bi/fbthesis