Is facebook and other popular social media today’s version of IBM’s Hollerith punch-card machines that helped the Nazis in their task of cataloging and dispatching their millions of victims?
“Here's a map of the world, as drawn by Facebook. What does that mean? Well, basically: The entire image is defined not by topographical features or political boundaries, but by Facebook friendships.” Click image to read more.
“Mankind barely noticed when the concept of massively organized information quietly emerged to become a means of social control, a weapon of war, and a roadmap for group destruction.” http://www.ibmandtheholocaust.com/excerpts.php
Facebook doesn't have to guess who its users are or what they like. Facebook knows, because members volunteer this information freely — and frequently — in their profiles, status updates, wall posts, messages and "likes."
It's now tracking this activity, shooting online ads to users based on their demographics, interests, even what they say to friends on the site — sometimes within minutes of them typing a key word or phrase.
For example, women who have changed their relationship status to "engaged" on their Facebook profiles shouldn't be surprised to see ads from local wedding planners and caterers pop up when they log in. Hedgehog lovers who type that word in a post might see an ad for a plush toy version of the spiny critters from Squishable.com. Middle-aged men who list motorcycling as one of their hobbies could get pitches from Victory Motorcycles. If a Facebook user becomes a fan of 1-800-FLOWERS, her friends might receive ads telling them that she likes the floral delivery service. (via Facebook looks to cash in on user data http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-facebook-ads-20110417,0,1887797.story
This data mining article has triggered my memory of ECHELON.
I am sure there is a way to nullify the effectiveness of online data mining. I was thinking word lists like those that were done for ECHELON http://www.nsawatch.org/eaves101.html back in the day. Of course they aren’t just mining/monitoring words, though their add-ware/spyware does just that.
I agree with the statement by Jamie Lee in a facebook post comment thread, “I think a lot of it has to do with the networks formed between people and how information passes between them rather than any sort of direct analysis of, like 'hey that guy just said crystal meth labs kill the president! let's take him down!'" They do look at the relationship and browsing patterns.
One idea I have around the user data idea is to compile word lists that can be posted by as many people as possible to nullify effective data mining. It can be creative and fun to encourage participation. Story games back and forth to mess up effective data mining. Maybe facebook pages dedicated to storytelling that would use as many random trigger words to confuse their system. All kinds of different posts with product placement, then notice how the ads on facebook change.
I am not sure how to screw with their browsing and relationship patterns though. This article Are You Following a Bot? by ANDY ISAACSON, and this article U.S. Military Using Fake Social Media Identities To Spread Propaganda give some great ideas.
Would it be possible to not only “Be like the fox who makes more tracks than necessary, some in the wrong direction” as suggested by the Product placement posts/stories, but to design programs that will run in the background, allowing us to randomly browse the web? Would that even be necessary?
I wonder what ideas you may have.
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