A mere 35 years have passed since the definition of the “information revolution” was first discussed in literature (J. R. Beniger, 1989) as a push towards intelligent systems, capable of serving humans and becoming their extension. A revolution of new smart services that cross-fertilise user data, adopted in large-scale in fast cycles. In this changing environment, protecting individual privacy becomes a crucial issue, especially when it comes to digital landscapes. Large tech companies such as Google and Amazon have changed their business models, following what Shoshana Zuboff calls the “Behavioural Surplus”: a new vision that sees online user behaviour as a currency for generating economic and intellectual value. From this critical perspective, it is possible to define the historical context of modern society as the “Era of Surveillance”, a delicate moment in which all actors involved in the processes of creating digital services are called to self-reflection. This thesis aims to bring value to this historical moment by considering a new point of view on the issues of privacy and the improper use of geo-location data. The adoption of Location-based Services (LBS), like Waze or Google Maps, has unlocked new opportunities yet new obstacles. This thesis creates a tool to navigate the threats that can arise in the everyday use of LBS, establishing a taxonomy that maps different dangerous scenarios. Through a synergetic process of research, cataloguing case studies and testing with real users, the taxonomy highlights six macro-areas that can create difficulties for digital users: hidden surveillance by governments and institutions, the use of coordinates for stalking, access to protected domains, the use of geolocalisation to monitor employees at work, the use of geographic data to obtain commercial return and the creation of persuasive profiled content. With the use of research and an envisioning prototype, this thesis becomes a point of reflection and critique on the great dilemma that arises when trying to delineate the boundary between the beneficial and non-beneficial use of location-tracking.
Sono passati solamente 35 anni da quando è stata discussa per la prima volta in letteratura la definizione di “rivoluzione informatica” (J. R. Beniger, 1989), una spinta verso sistemi intelligenti in grado di diventare estensione dell’uomo. Una rivoluzione fatta di nuovi servizi che incrociano i dati degli utenti, adottati su larga scala in cicli molto veloci. In questo contesto in evoluzione, la protezione della privacy individuale diventa una questione cruciale, soprattutto quando si tratta di servizi digitali. Grandi aziende tech come Google e Amazon hanno cambiato i loro modelli di business, seguendo quello che Shoshana Zuboff chiama il “Behavioural Surplus”: una nuova visione che vede il comportamento degli utenti online come una moneta per generare valore economico e intellettuale. Da questa prospettiva, è possibile definire il contesto storico della società moderna come “Era della Sorveglianza”, un momento delicato in cui tutti gli attori coinvolti nei processi di creazione di servizi digitali sono chiamati all'autoriflessione. Questa tesi si propone di dare valore a questo momento storico considerando un nuovo punto di vista sui temi della privacy e dell'uso improprio dei dati di geo-localizzazione. L'adozione dei Location-based Services (LBS), come Waze o Google Maps, ha aperto nuove opportunità, ma anche nuovi ostacoli. Questa tesi crea uno strumento per orientarsi tra le minacce che possono sorgere nell'uso quotidiano degli LBS, stabilendo una tassonomia che mappa diversi scenari. Attraverso un processo sinergico di ricerca, catalogazione di casi di studio e test con utenti, la tassonomia evidenzia sei macro aree che possono creare difficoltà agli utenti: la sorveglianza occulta da parte di governi, l'uso delle coordinate per stalking, l'accesso a domini protetti, l'uso della geolocalizzazione per monitorare i dipendenti al lavoro, l'uso dei dati per ottenere ritorno commerciale e la creazione di contenuti persuasivi. Con l'uso della ricerca e di un envisioning prototype, questa tesi diventa un punto di riflessione sul grande dilemma che sorge quando si cerca di delineare il confine tra l'uso benefico e non benefico del location-tracking.
The location tracking dilemma : navigating privacy in the era of surveillance
Paoli, Matteo
2022/2023
Abstract
A mere 35 years have passed since the definition of the “information revolution” was first discussed in literature (J. R. Beniger, 1989) as a push towards intelligent systems, capable of serving humans and becoming their extension. A revolution of new smart services that cross-fertilise user data, adopted in large-scale in fast cycles. In this changing environment, protecting individual privacy becomes a crucial issue, especially when it comes to digital landscapes. Large tech companies such as Google and Amazon have changed their business models, following what Shoshana Zuboff calls the “Behavioural Surplus”: a new vision that sees online user behaviour as a currency for generating economic and intellectual value. From this critical perspective, it is possible to define the historical context of modern society as the “Era of Surveillance”, a delicate moment in which all actors involved in the processes of creating digital services are called to self-reflection. This thesis aims to bring value to this historical moment by considering a new point of view on the issues of privacy and the improper use of geo-location data. The adoption of Location-based Services (LBS), like Waze or Google Maps, has unlocked new opportunities yet new obstacles. This thesis creates a tool to navigate the threats that can arise in the everyday use of LBS, establishing a taxonomy that maps different dangerous scenarios. Through a synergetic process of research, cataloguing case studies and testing with real users, the taxonomy highlights six macro-areas that can create difficulties for digital users: hidden surveillance by governments and institutions, the use of coordinates for stalking, access to protected domains, the use of geolocalisation to monitor employees at work, the use of geographic data to obtain commercial return and the creation of persuasive profiled content. With the use of research and an envisioning prototype, this thesis becomes a point of reflection and critique on the great dilemma that arises when trying to delineate the boundary between the beneficial and non-beneficial use of location-tracking.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/217960