New Web Coding May Lead to Privacy Issues

By Matt Saler

On the front page of today’s New York Times, there is a story about HTML 5, the new web coding that is slowly being ushered in across the Internet over the next few years. The new coding system will be much more “user-friendly,” making it easier for those who browse the web to check email offline, shop, find the closest movie theater via their iPhone, and view online videos without having to download the newest version of Flash or whatever software they prefer.

Sounds like a nice improvement, right?

Problem is, as the story states…


“The new Web language and its additional features present more tracking opportunities because the technology uses a process in which large amounts of data can be collected and stored on the user’s hard drive while online. Because of that process, advertisers and others could, experts say, see weeks or even months of personal data. That could include a user’s location, time zone, photographs, text from blogs, shopping cart contents, e-mails and a history of the Web pages visited.”


Advertisers and others could see one’s history of web pages visited and potentially read another’s emails without permission? Does anyone not see a problem with this?

While it is noted that users can organize settings on their browsers to avoid such tracking, my guess is that the majority of Internet users are not even aware that such tracking exists.

I think that the makers of these Web browsers should take responsibility and aim to eliminate all tracking capabilities whatsoever, or at a minimum, stress to all users of their software that such tracking exists.

For a country that stresses a lot of freedoms, this certainly has a creepy “Big Brother” feel to it. Hopefully this story opens some eyes.

Matt Saler is a Senior Account Executive. Contact him at matt@maroonpr.com.

Privacy in a Social Media Era

By Matt Saler

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines privacy as “freedom from unauthorized intrusion”… but in today’s evolving world of Google, Facebook, and everything else, it’s time that definition gets modified.

There is a phenomenal article in PC World this week that discusses this exact topic, focusing in on how privacy is at the center of this new social media universe.

The article does a great job of summing it up:


…privacy is subjective. There is no clear answer because my definition of privacy may not be the same as your definition of privacy… people just want control over when and how their information is shared.

Social networking sites are an extreme example because, by definition, they exist to share information socially. However, all businesses are entrusted with data of some kind and have an obligation to protect it. It is important that organizations understand that privacy is not dead, and it is important to keep user concerns regarding privacy in mind while adapting to evolving technology.


The article also talks about a case where a high school was the subject of pretty incriminating accusations. Recently, the high school that I attended (not our proudest moment) was under fire...


...when it implemented the ability to enable the webcam on laptops issued to students without their knowledge or consent. Does the obligation of the school to monitor extend to a right for the school to watch students getting dressed in the morning?


If these allegations are true, the line of privacy has been crossed on a variety of levels and those accused must be punished accordingly.

So must the concept of privacy now have to adapt and change with modern society? Has modern technology killed privacy altogether?

For society’s sake, lets hope not.


Matt Saler is an Account Executive. Contact him at matt@maroonpr.com.






Photo courtesy of Flickr's alancleaver_2000