A session on Data Privacy by Sanjeev

My name is Dharani. I care for perseverance and equity for myself and others. This blog is a reflection on attending a session on Data privacy.

On 8^th April 2023, C3streamland organized a session on Data privacy for the teachers of Udavi School and STEMland. Dr. Sanjeev Ranganathan briefed us on data privacy and some of the ways by which our personal data can be protected. As we teachers handle children, we must be aware of ourselves and educate children.

The session started with the movie The Social Dilemma. It is a documentary that explores the unintended and at times designed aspects of social media and its impact on society. It highlights the ways in which social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube use algorithms and data mining to keep users engaged and addicted, while also nudging their behaviour and opinions.

The film features interviews with several former executives and engineers from major social media companies who discuss the ethical concerns they have about the industry. They explain how the business models of these platforms rely on collecting vast amounts of personal data from users and using it to create highly targeted advertising, which can reinforce user’s existing beliefs and create echo chambers.

The film also addresses the psychological effects of social media, such as increased rates of anxiety, depression, and social isolation, as well as its impact on political polarization and the spread of misinformation.

Overall, this raises important questions about the role of social media in our lives and the need for greater regulation and accountability in the tech industry.

Sanjeev discussed the applications of Artificial intelligence and the intended and unintended consequences of technology. He also briefed us on how to transcend it by self-awareness.

He also enlightened us on the policies on data protection and the strong need to have data protection policies. Data protection safeguards sensitive data against loss, manipulation, and misuse. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India established the right to privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India as part of the right to life and personal liberty.

As a part of self-awareness, a few smart ways to have personal data protected by ourselves were discussed. Some of them are noticing our engagement with phones by turning on the digital well-being in the smartphones, turning off unwanted notifications, not just randomly accepting without even going through the privacy policies, cookies management, and software to protect passwords.

Overall, the session was enlightening and an eye-opener for us. Many of us shared insights and wanted to have a few more sessions on data privacy protection.