How Surveillance Tech Erodes Your Privacy | Jen Golbeck | TED

There are over 100,000 There are over 100,000 automated license plate reading cameras automated license plate reading cameras automated license plate reading cameras in this country. And when you drive past in this country. And when you drive past in this country. And when you drive past one, they don't just record your license one, they don't just record your license one, they don't just record your license plate, though they do that, too. They plate, though they do that, too. They plate, though they do that, too. They record the make and model of your car, record the make and model of your car, record the make and model of your car, the color, distinguishing marks like the color, distinguishing marks like the color, distinguishing marks like dents and scratches, and even your dents and scratches, and even your dents and scratches, and even your bumper stickers. So, if you were to take bumper stickers. So, if you were to take bumper stickers. So, if you were to take your license plate off, they still know your license plate off, they still know your license plate off, they still know that car belongs to you. And when you that car belongs to you. And when you that car belongs to you. And when you drive past a camera, the location and drive past a camera, the location and drive past a camera, the location and the time is recorded in the list of the time is recorded in the list of the time is recorded in the list of places they know you've been. places they know you've been. places they know you've been. So, if you were to become the victim of So, if you were to become the victim of So, if you were to become the victim of a stalker who works in law enforcement, a stalker who works in law enforcement, a stalker who works in law enforcement, could they use that network to monitor could they use that network to monitor could they use that network to monitor your movements? They can, and they have. your movements? They can, and they have. your movements? They can, and they have. If there is a demonstration in your town If there is a demonstration in your town If there is a demonstration in your town for gun rights or civil rights, and the for gun rights or civil rights, and the for gun rights or civil rights, and the government takes an interest, could they government takes an interest, could they government takes an interest, could they use this network to get a list of use this network to get a list of use this network to get a list of everyone who drove to or even who drove everyone who drove to or even who drove everyone who drove to or even who drove past that protest? past that protest? past that protest? They can, and they have. And if you live They can, and they have. And if you live They can, and they have. And if you live in a state where abortion is illegal, in a state where abortion is illegal, in a state where abortion is illegal, and you self-administer one, and your and you self-administer one, and your and you self-administer one, and your family disapproves, after you fled from family disapproves, after you fled from family disapproves, after you fled from them and left the state, can they go to them and left the state, can they go to them and left the state, can they go to law enforcement and have your movements law enforcement and have your movements law enforcement and have your movements around the country tracked?

around the country tracked? around the country tracked? They can, and they have. They can, and they have. They can, and they have. It's one of the thousands of ways that It's one of the thousands of ways that It's one of the thousands of ways that all of our movements are monitored every all of our movements are monitored every all of our movements are monitored every day. Our cars are recording our day. Our cars are recording our day. Our cars are recording our acceleration and speed and braking, acceleration and speed and braking, acceleration and speed and braking, sharing that with data brokers who sell sharing that with data brokers who sell sharing that with data brokers who sell access to car insurance companies who access to car insurance companies who access to car insurance companies who use it to change our rates. use it to change our rates. use it to change our rates. Our phones monitor our interactions, not Our phones monitor our interactions, not Our phones monitor our interactions, not just with apps, though they do that, just with apps, though they do that, just with apps, though they do that, too, but our movements through physical too, but our movements through physical too, but our movements through physical space, every business we enter, and the space, every business we enter, and the space, every business we enter, and the identities of people who are nearby. identities of people who are nearby. identities of people who are nearby. On the web, every click, every search, On the web, every click, every search, On the web, every click, every search, every fraction of a second our eyes every fraction of a second our eyes every fraction of a second our eyes linger on a piece of content is linger on a piece of content is linger on a piece of content is recorded, and we're followed across the recorded, and we're followed across the recorded, and we're followed across the web into our patient portals at our web into our patient portals at our web into our patient portals at our doctor's office and into forums we doctor's office and into forums we doctor's office and into forums we thought were private. thought were private. thought were private. And what we found is that if technology And what we found is that if technology And what we found is that if technology makes something possible and that makes something possible and that makes something possible and that something is profitable, companies will something is profitable, companies will something is profitable, companies will do it pretty much regardless of the do it pretty much regardless of the do it pretty much regardless of the ethics. And this kind of surveillance ethics. And this kind of surveillance ethics. And this kind of surveillance pricing is in use on the web for pricing is in use on the web for pricing is in use on the web for everything from airline tickets to everything from airline tickets to everything from airline tickets to clothes, but now it's following us clothes, but now it's following us clothes, but now it's following us offline and meeting us in stores.

offline and meeting us in stores. offline and meeting us in stores. Companies make billions of dollars a Companies make billions of dollars a Companies make billions of dollars a year using data from us that was year using data from us that was year using data from us that was collected without our permission collected without our permission collected without our permission and that they employ without our and that they employ without our and that they employ without our consent. consent. consent. But these systems don't exist just for But these systems don't exist just for But these systems don't exist just for commerce. They exist to build detailed commerce. They exist to build detailed commerce. They exist to build detailed dossiers of our thoughts, habits, and dossiers of our thoughts, habits, and dossiers of our thoughts, habits, and actions that can be used to manipulate actions that can be used to manipulate actions that can be used to manipulate our behavior or weaponized against us. our behavior or weaponized against us. our behavior or weaponized against us. Data that law enforcement would require Data that law enforcement would require Data that law enforcement would require a warrant to collect if they did it a warrant to collect if they did it a warrant to collect if they did it directly, they now can just go buy for a directly, they now can just go buy for a directly, they now can just go buy for a few dollars from private companies with few dollars from private companies with few dollars from private companies with no court order and no probable cause. no court order and no probable cause. no court order and no probable cause. The surveillance allows them to The surveillance allows them to The surveillance allows them to circumvent the protections that we have circumvent the protections that we have circumvent the protections that we have written into law. written into law. written into law. And I don't know about you, but if this And I don't know about you, but if this And I don't know about you, but if this is supposed to be the land of the free, is supposed to be the land of the free, is supposed to be the land of the free, it suddenly doesn't feel like it. it suddenly doesn't feel like it. it suddenly doesn't feel like it. We have a name for this kind of system. We have a name for this kind of system. We have a name for this kind of system. When the government and corporations go When the government and corporations go When the government and corporations go into a place and engage in extraction, into a place and engage in extraction, into a place and engage in extraction, taking away private property, resources, taking away private property, resources, taking away private property, resources, land, value, and labor from people, land, value, and labor from people, land, value, and labor from people, concentrating it for themselves, and concentrating it for themselves, and concentrating it for themselves, and then using it to keep that system in then using it to keep that system in then using it to keep that system in place, we call it colonialism.

place, we call it colonialism. place, we call it colonialism. And America's days as a British colony And America's days as a British colony And America's days as a British colony may be long over, but we have slid into may be long over, but we have slid into may be long over, but we have slid into a new form of colonialism, not at the a new form of colonialism, not at the a new form of colonialism, not at the hands of foreign powers and plantation hands of foreign powers and plantation hands of foreign powers and plantation owners and trading companies, but at the owners and trading companies, but at the owners and trading companies, but at the hands of tech companies and government hands of tech companies and government hands of tech companies and government agencies. agencies. agencies. And this is called data colonialism. And this is called data colonialism. And this is called data colonialism. The idea of data colonialism describes The idea of data colonialism describes The idea of data colonialism describes when governments and corporations when governments and corporations when governments and corporations extract data from people and use it to extract data from people and use it to extract data from people and use it to generate profits and exert control. generate profits and exert control. generate profits and exert control. >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> [snorts] >> And it's a system that we can see in >> And it's a system that we can see in >> And it's a system that we can see in place and in operation every day. place and in operation every day. place and in operation every day. For example, Airlines Reporting For example, Airlines Reporting For example, Airlines Reporting Corporation is a data broker owned by Corporation is a data broker owned by Corporation is a data broker owned by the major airlines in the US and they the major airlines in the US and they the major airlines in the US and they sell our flight records to the sell our flight records to the sell our flight records to the government including to Customs and government including to Customs and government including to Customs and Border Protection. Border Protection. Border Protection. Clearview AI has built facial Clearview AI has built facial Clearview AI has built facial recognition technology using images recognition technology using images recognition technology using images taken from social media and the web taken from social media and the web taken from social media and the web without permission and they sell that without permission and they sell that without permission and they sell that facial recognition to immigration facial recognition to immigration facial recognition to immigration officials including ICE. officials including ICE. officials including ICE. Cambridge Analytica built detailed Cambridge Analytica built detailed Cambridge Analytica built detailed psychological insights on millions of psychological insights on millions of psychological insights on millions of Americans using stolen social media data Americans using stolen social media data Americans using stolen social media data and they sold that to politicians who and they sold that to politicians who and they sold that to politicians who were running for office who turned were running for office who turned were running for office who turned around and used it to micro-target us around and used it to micro-target us around and used it to micro-target us with Facebook ads designed to manipulate with Facebook ads designed to manipulate with Facebook ads designed to manipulate our vote.

our vote. our vote. And these companies take their profits And these companies take their profits And these companies take their profits and use them to lobby those same and use them to lobby those same and use them to lobby those same politicians to make sure they enact politicians to make sure they enact politicians to make sure they enact policies that keep this system in place. policies that keep this system in place. policies that keep this system in place. Data colonialism is fundamentally Data colonialism is fundamentally Data colonialism is fundamentally incompatible with democracy because incompatible with democracy because incompatible with democracy because democracy requires that power be held in democracy requires that power be held in democracy requires that power be held in the hands of the people and that we're the hands of the people and that we're the hands of the people and that we're governed with our consent. governed with our consent. governed with our consent. But under this system, regardless of how But under this system, regardless of how But under this system, regardless of how our data is used, the surveillance our data is used, the surveillance our data is used, the surveillance itself undermines core principles of itself undermines core principles of itself undermines core principles of democracy so foundational that we wrote democracy so foundational that we wrote democracy so foundational that we wrote them into the Bill of Rights. them into the Bill of Rights. them into the Bill of Rights. Freedom of speech which is chilled under Freedom of speech which is chilled under Freedom of speech which is chilled under profiling and the destruction of profiling and the destruction of profiling and the destruction of anonymity. anonymity. anonymity. Freedom of association which is eroded Freedom of association which is eroded Freedom of association which is eroded under the surveillance of our under the surveillance of our under the surveillance of our interactions and communications and interactions and communications and interactions and communications and relationships. relationships. relationships. The right to due process which The right to due process which The right to due process which disappears in the darkness of opaque disappears in the darkness of opaque disappears in the darkness of opaque algorithms that make decisions about us algorithms that make decisions about us algorithms that make decisions about us with our extracted data and protection with our extracted data and protection with our extracted data and protection from unreasonable search and seizure from unreasonable search and seizure from unreasonable search and seizure that can't exist when our now digital that can't exist when our now digital that can't exist when our now digital lives are constantly monitored and data lives are constantly monitored and data lives are constantly monitored and data mined and monetized.

mined and monetized. mined and monetized. But the system is so huge that it can But the system is so huge that it can But the system is so huge that it can feel powerless to stand in the face of feel powerless to stand in the face of feel powerless to stand in the face of it. it. it. But we shouldn't feel powerless and in But we shouldn't feel powerless and in But we shouldn't feel powerless and in fact for all the division in our country fact for all the division in our country fact for all the division in our country right now, this is an issue that can right now, this is an issue that can right now, this is an issue that can unite us because data colonialism unite us because data colonialism unite us because data colonialism violates [clears throat] values that are violates [clears throat] values that are violates [clears throat] values that are core to liberals and conservatives on core to liberals and conservatives on core to liberals and conservatives on the left and the right. the left and the right. the left and the right. It diminishes the meaning of limited It diminishes the meaning of limited It diminishes the meaning of limited government, of personal responsibility, government, of personal responsibility, government, of personal responsibility, of private property. It weakens freedom of private property. It weakens freedom of private property. It weakens freedom and equality and civil rights and the and equality and civil rights and the and equality and civil rights and the value of consent. value of consent. value of consent. And the wild power that it concentrates And the wild power that it concentrates And the wild power that it concentrates in the hands of corporations and in the hands of corporations and in the hands of corporations and government agencies diminishes the power government agencies diminishes the power government agencies diminishes the power of the people, which is where it needs of the people, which is where it needs of the people, which is where it needs to reside for democracy to thrive. And to reside for democracy to thrive. And to reside for democracy to thrive. And it is far past time for us to revolt it is far past time for us to revolt it is far past time for us to revolt against that. against that. against that. But how do you do it in the face of a But how do you do it in the face of a But how do you do it in the face of a system that is so big and omnipresent? system that is so big and omnipresent? system that is so big and omnipresent? I don't want you to feel powerless I don't want you to feel powerless I don't want you to feel powerless because you're not. There are things because you're not. There are things because you're not. There are things that you can do today to start fighting that you can do today to start fighting that you can do today to start fighting against this.

against this. against this. You can start with the systems that are You can start with the systems that are You can start with the systems that are closest to you. For example, do you own closest to you. For example, do you own closest to you. For example, do you own a video doorbell? a video doorbell? a video doorbell? Last year Ring announced a partnership Last year Ring announced a partnership Last year Ring announced a partnership with Flock Safety who operates those with Flock Safety who operates those with Flock Safety who operates those license plate cameras that would have license plate cameras that would have license plate cameras that would have integrated your doorbell footage into integrated your doorbell footage into integrated your doorbell footage into their network and given access to law their network and given access to law their network and given access to law enforcement. enforcement. enforcement. But this year Ring canceled that But this year Ring canceled that But this year Ring canceled that partnership after a backlash from their partnership after a backlash from their partnership after a backlash from their customers. customers. customers. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> [applause] >> Similarly, Kroger, the grocery store, >> Similarly, Kroger, the grocery store, was going to test camera-enabled shelf was going to test camera-enabled shelf was going to test camera-enabled shelf labels in their stores, but after people labels in their stores, but after people labels in their stores, but after people threatened to boycott and Congress was threatened to boycott and Congress was threatened to boycott and Congress was investigating, they canceled that plan investigating, they canceled that plan investigating, they canceled that plan as well. as well. as well. >> [applause] >> So look for these ways that surveillance >> So look for these ways that surveillance is trying to creep into your life and is trying to creep into your life and is trying to creep into your life and they are going to tempt you with they are going to tempt you with they are going to tempt you with convenience, and you have to tell them convenience, and you have to tell them convenience, and you have to tell them no. no. no. Become incredibly annoying to Become incredibly annoying to Become incredibly annoying to corporations for the sake of democracy corporations for the sake of democracy corporations for the sake of democracy because history shows that you can win. because history shows that you can win. because history shows that you can win. But this isn't enough to take down data But this isn't enough to take down data But this isn't enough to take down data colonialism. We need to do more.

colonialism. We need to do more. colonialism. We need to do more. So in your cities, in your counties, So in your cities, in your counties, So in your cities, in your counties, even your homeowners association, see if even your homeowners association, see if even your homeowners association, see if they have contracts with surveillance they have contracts with surveillance they have contracts with surveillance companies. companies. companies. Show up to town meetings and city halls Show up to town meetings and city halls Show up to town meetings and city halls when these issues are being discussed. when these issues are being discussed. when these issues are being discussed. Demand they turn over records. Insist Demand they turn over records. Insist Demand they turn over records. Insist that contracts be canceled. Are they that contracts be canceled. Are they that contracts be canceled. Are they letting data centers in that will take letting data centers in that will take letting data centers in that will take your land and divert your water and tax your land and divert your water and tax your land and divert your water and tax your power grid? Insist that those your power grid? Insist that those your power grid? Insist that those permits be denied. permits be denied. permits be denied. And what is likely to happen is that And what is likely to happen is that And what is likely to happen is that your elected officials will not listen your elected officials will not listen your elected officials will not listen the first or the second time, but keep the first or the second time, but keep the first or the second time, but keep fighting, and if they refuse, vote them fighting, and if they refuse, vote them fighting, and if they refuse, vote them out of office because you can work to out of office because you can work to out of office because you can work to make your communities as safe as make your communities as safe as make your communities as safe as possible from the influence of this possible from the influence of this possible from the influence of this system. system. system. At the state and federal level, we are At the state and federal level, we are At the state and federal level, we are so long overdue for fundamental reforms so long overdue for fundamental reforms so long overdue for fundamental reforms in the way we think about data in the way we think about data in the way we think about data ownership, privacy, and corporate ownership, privacy, and corporate ownership, privacy, and corporate governance. There's a lot of work to do governance. There's a lot of work to do governance. There's a lot of work to do there. But one place that we can start there. But one place that we can start there. But one place that we can start is by stopping the government from is by stopping the government from is by stopping the government from getting around the protections of getting around the protections of getting around the protections of requiring a warrant where they just buy requiring a warrant where they just buy requiring a warrant where they just buy our data from private companies.

our data from private companies. our data from private companies. >> [applause] >> The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance >> The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, FISA, expressly prohibits the Act, FISA, expressly prohibits the Act, FISA, expressly prohibits the government from doing bulk data government from doing bulk data government from doing bulk data collection on US citizens, but the collection on US citizens, but the collection on US citizens, but the government has frequently gotten around government has frequently gotten around government has frequently gotten around that by buying the data from private that by buying the data from private that by buying the data from private companies. The FBI is doing this now. companies. The FBI is doing this now. companies. The FBI is doing this now. This so-called data broker loophole This so-called data broker loophole This so-called data broker loophole could be closed every time Congress could be closed every time Congress could be closed every time Congress reauthorizes FISA. The amendment to reauthorizes FISA. The amendment to reauthorizes FISA. The amendment to close it failed on a tie vote. close it failed on a tie vote. close it failed on a tie vote. And this year, they didn't even let the And this year, they didn't even let the And this year, they didn't even let the amendment come to the floor. FISA has amendment come to the floor. FISA has amendment come to the floor. FISA has lapsed, and it's a stark reminder of how lapsed, and it's a stark reminder of how lapsed, and it's a stark reminder of how colonialism re-entrenches itself by colonialism re-entrenches itself by colonialism re-entrenches itself by subverting democracy. So, talk to your subverting democracy. So, talk to your subverting democracy. So, talk to your representatives and tell them to close representatives and tell them to close representatives and tell them to close the data broker loophole, and look at the data broker loophole, and look at the data broker loophole, and look at the state and local level as well. So, the state and local level as well. So, the state and local level as well. So, your government and law and fish law your government and law and fish law your government and law and fish law enforcement officials are not getting enforcement officials are not getting enforcement officials are not getting around the legal protections that we around the legal protections that we around the legal protections that we have over our data by going to private have over our data by going to private have over our data by going to private companies who have collected it without companies who have collected it without companies who have collected it without our consent and sell it to them with no our consent and sell it to them with no our consent and sell it to them with no protection.

protection. protection. 250 years ago, the founders said that 250 years ago, the founders said that 250 years ago, the founders said that when a system of government becomes when a system of government becomes when a system of government becomes oppressive, even if that's embodied in oppressive, even if that's embodied in oppressive, even if that's embodied in part in corporations, it's our right and part in corporations, it's our right and part in corporations, it's our right and our duty to throw it off. our duty to throw it off. our duty to throw it off. Our data belongs to us. It's valuable Our data belongs to us. It's valuable Our data belongs to us. It's valuable and it's powerful, but when it's and it's powerful, but when it's and it's powerful, but when it's extracted, that value and power is taken extracted, that value and power is taken extracted, that value and power is taken out of our hands. out of our hands. out of our hands. Under data colonialism, you are being Under data colonialism, you are being Under data colonialism, you are being exploited by a system that oppresses exploited by a system that oppresses exploited by a system that oppresses you, taking your data and using it to you, taking your data and using it to you, taking your data and using it to diminish the rights and protections that diminish the rights and protections that diminish the rights and protections that we hold foundational to our democracy. we hold foundational to our democracy. we hold foundational to our democracy. You should be angry, but you shouldn't You should be angry, but you shouldn't You should be angry, but you shouldn't feel powerless because today's the day feel powerless because today's the day feel powerless because today's the day that you can commit to join the fight to that you can commit to join the fight to that you can commit to join the fight to dismantle data colonialism, reclaiming dismantle data colonialism, reclaiming dismantle data colonialism, reclaiming the power of our data into the hands of the power of our data into the hands of the power of our data into the hands of the people, and ensuring the future of the people, and ensuring the future of the people, and ensuring the future of our democracy. Thank you. our democracy. Thank you. our democracy. Thank you. >> [applause]