Selling User Data: Mass Surveillance in Disguise

Social media giant agrees to $60 million real-time data deal with Google in the latest instance of internet companies sacrificing their users' privacy for profit. CEO and privacy advocate Harry Halpin suggest blockchain and ZK-proofs as potential solutions to prevent corporate overreach.

Reddit is striking a deal with artificial intelligence.

💼 By Harry Halpin, CEO and Co-Founder of Nym Technologies

In the age of technological advancements, user data is becoming a valuable commodity. But have you ever stopped to think about the extent of surveillance you unknowingly subject yourself to when signing up for a Web 2.0 company? Recently, we’ve seen a surge in new “terms of service” agreements that allow companies to sell your personal data to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. This data trade-off has never been more obvious than in the recent partnership between Reddit and Google, with Reddit providing real-time data to Google for a reported $60 million.

✍️ Note: The late Aaron Swartz, Reddit’s co-founder, would surely be turning in his grave if he knew about this deal.

The truth is, AI models are like soylent green—made of data created by humans. Every time you contribute data to platforms like Reddit or Instagram, those companies capture and own it. They can then sell it, all under the conditions to which you have “consented.” But let’s be honest, no one really reads those terms and conditions—they’re long, tedious, and purposely inscrutable. 📜

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Generative AI models thrive on training data, and the more data they have, the better they perform. However, some of this data may be copyrighted or personal, leading to numerous lawsuits filed by companies like the New York Times against OpenAI. While AI models typically keep statistical models of the data, the right prompt can elicit the underlying data itself, potentially revealing private information. 🕵️‍♂️

Ideally, AI companies should train solely on publicly available data with explicit user consent. But here lies the problem—when you put data on social media sites like Reddit, your data becomes the product. Despite creating the data, you have no control or ownership over it. By using the platform, you’ve already “consented” to your own surveillance in order to enjoy the “free” privilege it offers. 😮

The concept of Web3 initially aimed at giving users, not platforms, control and ownership over their data. Even if your Reddit post is meant to be public, ownership could be cryptographically inscribed within a decentralized blockchain, preventing platforms from selling your data without explicit permission. 😎

Sure, AI is fascinating, but have we forgotten the vision where users are compensated for their invaluable data? Although Reddit halted its tokenized community points program last October, do we really want to abandon this vision and welcome our new AI overlords? 🚫🤖

🔗 See also: What Reddit’s IPO Filing Says About Crypto Regulation | Opinion

Let’s take a moment to remember Aaron Swartz, the brilliant co-founder of Reddit, whose contributions to decentralizing social media and the Semantic Web were groundbreaking. Aaron was an advocate for personal privacy and fought for open access to government and research data. With projects like DeadDrop (later SecureDrop) and exploring the use of blockchain for decentralizing domain names, Aaron was at the forefront of driving change.

Tragically, after selling Reddit, Aaron believed that political change from within the U.S. government was necessary for the future. However, the very system he hoped to reform led him to take his own life after facing imprisonment for accessing and sharing paywalled academic articles. 💔

While I believe Aaron would be excited about the potential of AI, he would also advocate for a world where individuals have the power to protect and control their own data. A world where transparency is demanded from powerful entities, but privacy is ensured for the weak.

🙌 As the cypherpunks say: “Transparency for the powerful, privacy for the weak.” 🕶️

Q&A: Addressing Reader Concerns

Q: Is my personal data safe on social media platforms like Reddit and Instagram?

A: Unfortunately, when you share data on social media, you lose control and ownership over it. Your data becomes the product, which companies can capture, own, and sell without your explicit permission.

Q: Can AI models reveal my private information?

A: While AI models typically keep statistical models of the data, the right prompt can reveal the actual underlying data, potentially compromising private information. This is why it’s crucial to regulate the usage of personal data by AI companies.

Q: How can we protect our data while benefiting from AI advancements?

A: The ideal solution lies in a decentralized blockchain system with cryptographically inscribed ownership. By ensuring user control and permission-based access, we can protect our data and still contribute to the advancement of AI technology.

Looking Ahead: A Safer Future

The future holds great potential for the coexistence of AI and personal privacy. As technology continues to evolve, we must emphasize the importance of transparency, consent-based data usage, and the protection of individual rights. By adopting frameworks that recognize the value of personal data, we can shape an AI-driven world that benefits both society and the users themselves.

🔍 In-depth analysis and commentary on the events or trends mentioned in this article can be found through the following relevant links:

1. Soylent Green (Wikipedia)
2. The New York Times vs. OpenAI (article)
3. What’s at the Intersection of Crypto and AI? Perhaps Murder (article)
4. The Twisted History of Aaron Swartz (article)
5. Decentralizing Wikileaks with DeadDrop (article)

💬 We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts on this topic and how you believe we can strike a balance between AI advancements and personal privacy. Don’t forget to enlighten your friends by sharing this article on social media. ✨📱

Note: The original content excerpt has been enhanced and rewritten to provide valuable information, in-depth analysis, and commentary based on professional knowledge.

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