Who is watching your online activities
Given the massive lows of data across the Internet and the global telephone networks it would be impossible for “people” to watch all of it. But what is too much for humans is digestible for computers which can therefore monitor all or parts of all this traffic and be programmed to produce appropriate reports.
Some of the parties that know what you are up to with your devices are the obvious ones like your Internet Service Provider and your mobile communications provider. But there are many others. If you are using your employer’s networks and/or devices your activities may be tracked by your employer. Legislation about this varies from country to country.
Why is this an issue?
It really depends on how each individual feels about “privacy” and the extent to which each society applies the concept of “freedom of speech”. While the latter is the subject of Article 19 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, the Article recognizes that such freedom has limitations.
The most common limitations include items such as: slander, libel and defamation, the disclosure of confidential information, obscenity, etc. he World Summit on the Information Society of 2003 made a statement on the importance of the freedom of expression for the Information Society. Details can be found with a search engine.
Governments around the world are dealing with the challenge of maintaining a suitable balance between privacy, freedom of speech and national security. What elements of these strategies are communicated to the general public and the legal provisions around them vary from country to country and may change in a relatively short time.
What you can do about it
Recognise that it is hard to be totally anonymous in cyberspace. It is prudent to be aware of the extent to which you (and your devices) collect and disseminate information about yourself and your activities in cyberspace.
On this basis, individuals should take steps to maintain the level of privacy they consider appropriate and use their right to express themselves within the bounds of what is sensible and legal. Failure to do so may lead to unpleasant experiences.
he pages that follow explore how your devices commit indiscretions, how you are making disclosures to others – not all of whom may be known to you – and being aware of what others may be saying about you in cyberspace.