Privacy On and Offline

Common day-to-day activities we partake in work in forming our digital footprint- the trail of data left when using the internet. Activities such as web searches, online purchases, location data, app usage, and many other components you may not even be aware of are contributing to the formation of our digital footprints. It is important for people to be aware of just how much information we are giving out daily and to be mindful of our digital footprints. As I watched a few TedTalks on privacy on and offline I was shocked by just how much information we give out every single day. 

The first TedTalk I watched, "Your Online Life, Permanent As A Tattoo" by Juan Enriquez painted the picture of our online presence perfectly. He begins the TED Talk by talking about body tattoos and how they show a lot of stories. He then compares them to forms of electronic tattoos, for example, social media sites, cell phones, GPS, security cameras, credit cards, and more. 

Each of these electronic tattoos shares information about who we are just as body tattoos do but on a deeper scale. He then dives into how facial recognition is constantly improving. When we take a photo on our cell phones it distinguishes who each person in the picture is even creating separate albums by your friends and family members throughout your camera roll. Facial recognition can also find the names of each person you take a photo of as well as download all of their records. In addition to this, companies are now implementing cameras that take your photo and tie it to social media figuring out your interests to better market products to people. These tattoos will live far longer than we do. He wraps up his speech by discussing the Greeks and how we are now threatened with immortality because of these electronic tattoos.

In addition to these electronic tattoos that we engage with, we are also being monitored just by having electronic devices around us even when they arent in use. Christopher Soghoian's TED Talk "How To Avoid Surveillance... With the Phone in Your Pocket" begins with him sharing the alarming fact that our telephone and the networks were wired for surveillance first. While on the phone, our government can be listening as well as another government, hackers, stalkers, criminals, and more. While telephone companies have made surveillance a priority, Silicon Valley companies have not by building encryption technology into their products ultimately making surveillance very difficult. 

Text messages sent from an iPhone to another iPhone can not be wiretapped easily and tech companies are now turning on encryption features in their products by default. This has allowed for easy communication without interference from governments and wiretapping of conversations. However, it has also angered several government officials. He emphasizes the importance of using the prevention of government surveillance tools to secure our calls and our messages.

While it may be more obvious we are constantly being tracked online, we are also being monitored out in public, everywhere we drive, and in every store we enter. Catherine Crump discusses current surveillance equipment which now allows police departments to gather more information on humans than ever before in her TED Talk "The Small and Surprisingly Dangerous Detail The Police Track About You." 

By just driving a car around alone they can gather things about you including religion, education, mental illnesses, and so much more. Even license plate readers track you determining the owner of the car, where you're going, and who you're with. The government can use this information to figure out how citizens interact which is information that used to be private. However, due to modern-day technology, access to citizen's information is far greater than necessary. And just because you don't see these trackers doesn't mean they aren't there.

Each of these issues affects me, my friends, my family, and every human as a whole. We are constantly being observed and monitored with little privacy anymore. The government should make stricter regulations on access to information though they are the ones accessing this information about humans. 

I believe that it is unlikely the government will do much about these issues in the future for they likely use the information learned to their benefit. However, we as humans can do a better job of keeping this information private. For example, simply turning our phones off when we are not using them prevents from the government hearing our conversations, and unplugging devices such as Alexa or Google when not using them so that it doesn't listen to every conversation you have. Although it is scary to realize all of these issues occurring around us from these TED Talks it is important to be aware of them so that we can take steps towards protecting the invasion of our privacy.

The First Newspaper

The emergence of newspapers transformed our means of communication and knowledge. Prior to the invention, access to information was very limited and difficult to obtain. The creation of the first regularly printed newspaper opened many avenues for common citizens to become informed on the world around them. They now demonstrate our ways of recording defining moments in history acting as a way for humans to can connect, learn, and engage.

The birth of the first newspaper was influenced by several key members of society in the 17th century. The Renaissance which took place from the 14th to the 17th century promoted an increase in demand for written materials and overall information in the growing middle classes who didn't have as much access to information at the time. The earlier invention of the printing press in the 1400's made printing written publications possible for mass production setting the stepping stones for the invention of the newspaper.

Johann Carolus

From 1618-1648 the Thirty Year's War, a war between Catholic and Protestant states, occurred in central Europe creating a greater need for a means of communication with citizens. This war also led both Catholic and Protestant states to shape public opinion by utilizing printed pamphlets and news sheets.

"Account of All Distinguished and Commemorative News," written in German language was printed in 1605 in Strasbourg France. This was printed by Johann Carolus who obtained a license granting him the ability to be the first to print regular weekly newspapers. Later on in 1659, Carolus published the "Relation" which is recognized as the first newspaper in the world by the World Association of Newspapers. 

1609 edition of
Carolus's Relation

Early newspaper pioneers faced censorship challenges including Carolus. Three years into his publishing Carolus faced censorship challenges which became known as the first censorship incidence. European governments censoring newspapers made it harder for them to grow however to avoid financial difficulties due to disobeying, Carolus had to shift to censoring his articles.

In 1695 the Continuation Bill passed without the renewal of the Licensure Act. This allowed copyright and pre-publication censorship to expire. Once press censorship laws were lifted and printing technology advanced newspapers flourished like never before.

Prior to the invention of newspapers people typically received their information through word-of-mouth. This made it difficult to gather information as it only spread so fast resulting in little to no information on important matters. Newspapers revolutionized our means of communication by providing regular printed publications that had the power to rapidly disperse news to a wide range of people. In fact, the concept of "public opinion" stemmed from the introduction of newspapers. Writers were able to express opinions and analyze current events ultimately allowing readers to form their own opinions on topics written about. It became very apparent that newspapers began to influence public opinion and have positively impacted the development of our society. This allowed citizens to become more educated and informed which increased engagement within our government as well as important breakthroughs regarding science, art, economics, and more.

Not only did the newspaper contribute to a new form of communication itself but it was also a precursor for contemporary mass media forms including radios and television sparking inventions in photography as well as other communication technologies.

Eight Values of Free Expression

The First Amendment led to The Eight Values of Free Expression which enables citizens to be able to freely express themselves with some restraints. These values include:

1) Marketplace of Ideas which involves discovering the truth.
2) Participation in Self-government which allows free speech for candidates in elections allowing citizens to make informed decisions on candidates.
3) Stable Change which prevents unnecessary violence allowing citizens to vent their problems ultimately resulting in more stability. 
4) Individual Self-fulfilment which allows for free expression ultimately allowing individuals to create their own identities. 
5) Check on Governmental Power allows for checks and balances to prevent the abuse of governmental power. 
6) Promote Tolerance allows individuals to become more tolerant.
7) Promote Innovation where free speech allows citizens to be more creative allowing for a more diverse and interesting society. 
8) Promote Dissent which allows you to disagree with the government and other citizens.

Looking at these freedoms now, it is hard to imagine a time when these freedoms didn't exist. It feels very normal to us now that we have access to these freedoms to freely express ourselves however there was a time when we didn't have these individual liberties. It makes you appreciate all that has occurred in the past to get to a point where we can exercise free expression. While all eight of these values of Free Expression are very important, there are two Values of Free Expression that stuck out to me more than others: stable change and individual self-fulfillment.

Stable Change

Stable change allows citizens to be able to form their own opinions and speak their minds without facing punishment. One may think this could cause unnecessary problems however it actually results in a more stable society with overall less violence. Many individuals act out to get their points across when they don't have the ability to share them openly. Without the freedom to vent their beliefs and issues with the government peacefully, it would result in more destruction and detrimental actions. 

A perfect example of stable change is peaceful protests. They allow citizens to speak their minds while being protected under the First Amendment. The image to the right shows a seventeen-year-old girl speaking to student environmental activists in Washington D.C. during the Global Climate Strike in 2019.

As discussed in the second Supreme Court video, the Supreme Court Judges cannot bring their own problems to court, they have to wait for the people. This allows for citizens to have a say in the court which would not be allowed without stable change. This method of expression allows individuals to bring attention to their concerns and get them addressed by the court. This is a more successful process than the alternative of citizens acting on their problems which could result in harming others or destruction of property. The process of the Supreme Court allows citizens to have control of what gets addressed in court rather than the government having total control. We as citizens are fortunate to have this power and be able to influence change in our society. 

Individual self-fulfillment

I believe that individual self-fulfillment is the most important of all of the Values of Free Expression because it allows you to define who you are as a person. I believe discovering your most authentic self is one of the most important things every individual needs to experience because with no individual identity, who are you as a person? I learn new things about myself every day including new interests, goals, and values, all adding up to the person I am today and will be in the future. The more you learn about yourself the more likely you are to partake in things you enjoy most and ultimately enjoy your own company. The more I reflect on who I am as an individual the more I appreciate life and the experiences I encounter. 

This value of expression allows you to be able to do that. Without this value, it would be difficult to form your own identity and reach the self-actualization that Abraham Maslow speaks so highly of. He describes self-actualization as reaching full fulfillment and ultimately living up to our fullest potential which would not be secured without this freedom. 

Overall, it allows society to be full of diverse people and allows for differing perspectives and a more interesting lifestyle by learning things from others that you would not learn if people didn't have the ability to express themselves. Without free speech, it would be hard to express yourself and therefore learn the important things about who you are to form your own identity.

The U.S. Supreme Court Reflection

The two U.S. Supreme Court videos were very enlightening. The first video taught me some general information covering the nine justices; each of which serves an average of sixteen years or longer, the history of the Supreme Court, the amount of cases the court receives weekly, and yearly, and a look into the day-to-day work of the justices. 

I liked how the video began by diving into the history of the Supreme Court addressing the case of Marbury v. Madison, 1803, where under John Marshall the court struck down an act of Congress as unconstitutional. This was very monumental as the new court rapidly earned public respect as a co-equal branch of government under his years. The video then continues onto the case of Dred Scott claiming his freedom under an act of Congress twenty years later which weakened the Court's authority.

Through the conversation with Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justices O'Connor, Thomas, and Breyer talking with Dick Howard, the Justices noted some interesting points. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor shared that the process for granting or denying certiorari requires every petition to get the same individual consideration. This shows that the process is fair and unbiased towards any particular group of people. I also appreciated how the associate Justice mentioned his system of everyone speaking once before anyone speaks twice. I feel like that is an excellent system because it can be hard to get your opinion out there in a conversation when the same few people keep talking. I think this system allows for equal conversations accounting for everyone's opinions and ideas. Justice Clarence Thomas mentioned that he likes to have an outlined answer before coming into the conference to know how he is going to decide the case but sometimes that answer changes throughout the conference. He acknowledges that his opinion relatively stays the same yet he is open to changing his opinion based on the discussion. Each of these points makes me feel confident in the individuals making these decisions as they are attempting to make fair and ethical decisions.

I was particularly surprised by the number of cases received compared to the number considered by the court. The Supreme Court receives over a hundred new cases every week and about 7,000 a year, most of these arriving as petitions for certiorari. Of the approximate 7,000, the court only accepts about a hundred of them for full consideration each year. Newly arrived petitions and written arguments in cases that have already been accepted are sent to the justices one time a week. This surprised me because I thought a hundred was very few compared to the thousands of cases received yearly. However, once watching the second video I slowly realized why. 

Part two dove into the inner workings of the cases and how they go through the Court. Within a few days after hearing arguments, the nine Justices sit together in a conference room to vote to decide a case. Once they decide, a Justice on the majority side of the decision is assigned to write an opinion explaining the legal reasons for the decision. This is important because the Court's reasoning in a written opinion binds all other courts as they decide future cases. Any Justice also has the option to write a separate opinion from the majority, either dissenting from the decision or concurring with the result but disagreeing with the reasoning which I did not know prior to this video. It takes about four weeks for the opinion drafts to be completed and then it is sent to all nine Justices. A Justice may redraft in an effort to persuade the other Justices to join the majority opinion. Revisions may go on for months as the author tries to accommodate differing views. 

I found it interesting how the length of the written opinion varies. When the decisions are unanimous it will typically be a few pages long but if the divided court writes separate opinions it can exceed eighty pages. This makes complete sense though it's crazy to think that if a separate opinion is written it can more than double in length.

After learning about the process it makes sense why they only choose to accept about a hundred for full consideration. Doing any more would be very difficult to manage with the amount of time it takes to just come to a decision on one case. This video made me realize just how long it takes to grant or deny certiorari and made me respect the work of the Supreme Court Justices even more than I had before. I found it interesting how a Justice explained how it takes at least three to five years to start feeling less overwhelmed and getting comfortable in the position. It makes sense that it would take a decent amount of time to get comfortable in such an important role but also surprising that out of the average sixteen years as a Justice, it takes about a fourth of the time to actually start feeling confident. 

Current Justices of The Supreme Court 

Top Five Sources of New and Information

With the continuous rise of technology, gathering information is easier than ever. Through the access of various media platforms obtaining knowledge and hearing multiple perspectives on various topics is not difficult to obtain. I particularly enjoy staying up to date on current events in our world as well as topics related to psychology, science, history, and so much more. I trust that all of the sources I utilize and the information I obtain are reliable as I check the credibility of each source noting any biases that may arise. With that said, my top five sources of news and information included The Journal, Fox News, TED Talks Daily, Instagram, and TikTok. Each of these sources allows me to stay up-to-date and informed within our world.

#1: The Journal

The Journal is a podcast that I listen to daily. As a co-production of Spotify and The Wall Street Journal, it is a podcast about business, technology, and finance covering various topics. Lately, it has been covering a lot of politics with the upcoming election however it also covers a broad range of topics which I enjoy as I like learning about various topics. Each episode is about fifteen to twenty minutes so it’s perfect to listen to as I get ready for the day. It sets up my mornings with a nice overview of current event topics and what I should be aware of currently in our world.

#2: The Fox News Rundown

Similar to "The Joumal" I listen to the Fox News run down most mornings. I have a hard time tuning into a regular news station at times however I am still interested in knowing what is going on around me and staying up to date in the world. The Fox News Run Down fits great into my daily routines as each episode is about fifteen to thirty minutes each so I am able to hear a quick gist of the news. Each episode is broken up into different sections starting with an introduction followed by the current top news stories covering politics, economics, and other current events. Some episodes also include commentary from varying speakers. Overall, it provides listeners with an overall concise overview of current news and information.

 

#3: TED Talks Daily

I have always enjoyed listening to TED Talks so when I came across TED Talks Daily I added it to my Spotify library immediately. I listen to this podcast when I am in the car driving places or doing tasks throughout the day. It educates me on various topics acting as a well-rounded information source. I know the information is trustworthy and very informative as each talk is from a different global leader and intellectual thinker. I also enjoy how this allows for multiple perspectives that I may not have considered without listening to TED Talks Daily.

#4: Instagram

I primarily use Instagram to stay up to date on my friends and family member's lives through posts however I also follow a lot of informational accounts. I can keep up with the news by following news channels including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Fox News. I follow educational pages including National Geographic and NASA. I often find out about the major headliners in our news from Instagram then research it further to learn more about it. These accounts pop up throughout my feed informing me on current events as well as suggested accounts to follow providing even more information.

#5: TikTok

While TikTok is known for being a social media page solely for entertainment purposes it also holds a great deal of news and information. Many pages on TikTok pertain to general news as well as focused areas of study. By watching short videos I am able to learn current events, social issues, history, science, lifestyle, culture, and so much more. I enjoy how the videos stay under a certain time length so that the information is easy to digest and I can switch from one topic to another. Some accounts I follow for news and information include @discovery, @doctorhoeflinger, @billnye, and many more.