In the News
Your private social media posts really are not private at all. In Facebook’s contract workers are looking at your private posts to train AI, James Vincent at The Verge discusses the use of private social media posts to further the development of artificial intelligence. Vincent explains that social media companies such as Facebook hire third-parties to investigate trends in user posts that can further AI capabilities which create a more personalized experience on the platform. Vincent calls into question the privacy of the posts used for such AI development especially at contracted offices.
Our Take
Privacy and social media have a complicated relationship. Everyone wants to have a personalized experience on the platforms, but they also do not wish to have their personal information or posts sold or released to third parties. Facebook’s use of contract workers to develop AI using private posts is not surprising, but potentially problematic as Vincent addressed. With the amount shared and posted on social media platforms, it is reasonable to assume that much of the contents used for AI development are harmless. However, there are still many people who share highly personal or sensitive information through a post on social media. If these contracted workers have a security breach, this information can lead to information security concerns. Privacy settings on social media are a concept that many do not take advantage of entirely but can be a helpful way for you to take a proactive role in your data privacy.
Recommendations
How can you protect your privacy while using social media platforms?
- Understand the risks of putting your personal information into the world, and only share what you have to
- Utilize additional security/privacy measures and settings on apps, accounts, and platforms whenever possible
- Use privacy settings on your accounts when they are available
- Know your rights when it comes to data use and storage