[LINK] [PRIVACY] SMH: 'Social media exploitation is gravest risk'

[Jan Whitaker]

At 11:37 AM 5/03/2012, Stephen Wilson wrote:
>   So many
>technologists don't even know it.

I agree on that point, as well as others that the principles are in 
place. Unfortunately, the enforcement and penalties are woeful.

So here's my dilemma. I teach about the Privacy Act, certainly from a 
requirement to comply and an ethical position (the right thing to do 
with regard to respecting people's right to be made aware and to 
choose to participate or not (informed consent)). Heck, just bringing 
the existence of the law to their attention is a good step. But from 
a business perspective and a 'risk' view, what do they have to lose 
if they ignore it? Even loss of reputation doesn't seem to dent their 
approach (when it comes to those with security breaches as well as 
those who just thumb their noses at the law here like Facebook, 
Google, and other intl companies). They gear up their PR outfits and 
just use newspeak about how changes in their attacks are for a 
'better experience for our users'. What do I tell students about the 
reality when it comes to a hard nose business perspective and not be 
a liar myself?

I agree with you that we need to speak up in as many venues as 
possible as a public, but we continue to lose. Death by a thousand 
cuts is still death.

Jan



Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
blog: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com

Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or 
sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth.
~Madeline L'Engle, writer

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