Deek Deekster
Facebook, Privacy and the Bermuda Principles.
19/11/07 09:39 Filed in: Social
Networking | internet
In particular, I read Deek's blog and felt a quiet internal fist punch the air whilst whisper-shouting "YES!"
I can't help but think it's all still too late for those that did have an account and have now deleted, as they have already signed away the rights to have their name extracted from wherever it may exist online. It is interesting that they say they reserve the right to extract your details from off line sources as well.. Are there any of those places left?
Years ago I remember seeing an exhibition in New York from an artist (sorry can't remember his name) who had patented the DNA from a select few of his friends. A painter, a sculptor and so on. He stated that with this new ownership he now possessed their individual artistic merits.
Obviously it was a statement against the use of DNA databases, but with the human gnome now technically being 'open source' If we can't own the right to our physical being, how on earth can we expect to keep a hold of the personal details of our life? It's as if by joining facebook we too have signed a copy of the Bermuda Principles.
There are those that would argue that a totally transparent society is the way to go. With DNA for scientific medial reasons I would have to agree making it 'open source' can do nothing but help us find all kinds of cures. But for our personal lives, (or whatever is left of them) rubbish.
Privacy helps us as individuals maintain our autonomy and individuality. We define ourselves by exercising power over our personal information.
Not to mention the functional benefits too. It protects our identities, not just from identity theft but also from repercussions for our political and religious beliefs. The Nazis found ID cards very helpful when it came to rounding people up.
I wrote a little in 'The Perfect Prison' about what happens to our minds and how we begin to behave when our privacy is slowly taken away from us.
I used to think that my home was a 'private' place but when I spend 70% of my waking hours online how much privacy do I think I really have.
Check out this short film on who's watching you..
There are not many 'private' places left. And now that policing has been brought right into out home.. do you have anywhere private to go?
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Artistic Generosity
He is a listener to my Documentally podcast and dropped me a comment on my blog saying nice things and wanting to know how he could support the podcast..
Rather than say "Cold hard cash please.." I saw that he was pretty handy in the design department and hinted I was looking for a new logo.
Two days later I was inundated with design concepts that I really liked. Now I am spoilt for choice and as I decide which logos I want to utilize, I will be pondering how generous certain artists and new media folk are.
First Deek Deekster comes to the rescue with some quality hosting and now Iso Ban zips some logos to me from the other side of the world. I am inspired and very grateful.
I really should get some more podcasts out..
p.s. I have already had some very swanky vinyl stickers made.. Keep your eyes open on a hand drier or telephone box near you.. Or drop me a postal address and I will send one. (While stocks last).