Years ago, it was not easy for an outsider to see inside your home and create a mental picture of the activity taking place there.
Who is watching television, and what are they watching? Today, we have built electronic windows into our homes, and someone who
wants to know about our household activities can simply open those windows from anywhere with connected computing devices
(Payton 37). What I have just read to you was a book written by Theresa M. Payton titled “Privacy in the Age of Big Data”. Ms.
Theresa Payton who is one of Americas’ most respected internet security, net crime, and technology officers therefore I reference her
words confidently in this presentation.
Now, have you ever asked your mom or dad to buy something for a mobile game? Like Robux or Vbux from Fortnight. I certainly
have. After my heavy pleading I remember them getting their debit card and “Volla” I have Robux. I am sure we all at one time or
another purchased something online. During this holiday season think how many gifts were bought online, or how many concert
tickets were purchased online. Let’s not forget to mention groceries, flight purchases and the list goes on. Although, I have a question,
where do you think the data goes? As we put our personal information into these automated systems where does this data travel and is
our private information safe? That is why I decided to write this paper for my National History Day Project.
I am a student born in the age of artificial technology. I was told by my parents and elders that there was once a time when
automated systems also known artificial intelligence was of non-existence. Before researching for this project, I was unaware of the
impact of automated systems even though I benefited from its intelligence every day of my life. As I continued to research this topic
of artificial intelligence, I realized that it really sticks up to its name. What I mean by that is this. Let’s break down the words,
artificial intelligence. The word artificial, according to Websters Dictionary is the (Webster) made, produced, or done by humans
especially to seem like something natural. From that point of view artificial intelligence seems simply organized, coded information
by humans to accomplish a task. Now that we have established a definition of artificial intelligence let’s explore how our data travels
across the internet. By establishing how data travels through the internet we can get a better understanding of how our data and
privacy may be at risk. Also, by studying the process of data travel we can determine what rights we may or may not have as human
users and companies. Now, let’s begin.
According to CompTIA A= study guide written by Wentian Docter, who is the author of Subex’s CompTIA IT Fundamentals. Data
transferring and networking, in short, is data that is packaged and sent from one computing device to another. These devices are
connected either with wired cables or connected wirelessly using what we all know as Wi-Fi. There is much more to data transferring
although this is brief knowledge of our private data transfer. Now we will discuss the computer network process. If you want to send
3 pictures you would think it will go together into 1 but you are wrong. Instead, the network uses something called the TCP/IP
protocol, the only thing that it is a set of rules on how data is moved over the network, and in the TCP/IP data is not sent in one piece.
Instead, the picture is broken up in many pieces and that’s called data packet’s and then they are sent. Then they will INDEPENTLY
travel across the network through devices and other networks (Docter 312). You’re properly asking why do they use data packets?
Well, if we send all the pictures in one its will become slower to see the pictures on the other side of the screen, but if we break the
pictures down it is faster and efficient for the other side of the screen to see.”
Now that we know in brief how data information is transferred throughout the network, we have a better understanding of the
importance of securing this data and our privacy in this day in age. When we place our data on the internet it is open and available to
anyone that can possibly remove, steal, or even alter the data. In assisting with protecting our data and privacy I will speak some
important facts and details of how to do so from a user. One of computers’ biggest threats is malware, for those who don’t know what
malware is let me tell you. Malware is any type of software that will damage your computer, malware can also grant unauthorized
access.
Can you imagine the personal data that we all carry like our name, addresses, bank information, social security numbers, credit
card number, my Roblox password. Also, can you imagine the security camera footage at your home and the data it collects
constantly. How about the cameras and our laptops, how is our private information protected? Although some data is more serious
than others it is still my private information, and I should have the right to be protected especially in this digital age.
If one has not been directly affected by having their privacy data exposed, then one may think that it does not occur often.
Although a great deal of cyber-attacks has happened recently. In fact, according to the February of 2024, Change Healthcare suffered
the largest known data breach of protected health information to date. The document says that this cyber-attack affected more than
100 million Americans. This data breach exposed a great deal of Social Security numbers, license addresses and banking records
(Bonnie). Now let’s imagine if the hacked information was that of a family member or even yourself; that was very unfortunate.
Needless to say artificial technology has benefited us as well.
AI has been with us through thick and thin. From google maps assisting us as we travel to our intended destination to guiding us to
which clothes we should wear before exiting our home due to its’ weather predictions. In fact, artificial intelligence even assisted me
while preparing for this assignment. Granted, does this new artificial intelligence come at a price? Do the benefits of artificial
intelligence outweigh our privacy rights? Well, Ms. Theresa M. Payton, doesn’t seem to think so. She writes in her book; “Privacy in
the Age of Big Data: Recognizing threats, defending your right, and protecting your family”.
Ms. Payton states “When your privacy is protected, you are free to choose how much of your sensitive information to expose, to
whom you will expose it, and in some cases how others can use this information (Payton 37). As one may see, this new age of
artificial intelligence has its benefits, we experience although without responsible, transparent, guidelines in order then it is bound to
create controversy. This is such an important issue that the former President Joe Biden decided to address it on his early days in
office. Data privacy is so important a document was created; called the AI Bill of Rights. There are 5 principles that the AI Bill of
rights uses as guidelines in hopes of protecting our rights and privacy as United States citizens. I have included these rights below
with a brief description of them according to (AI Bill of rights).
You might be wondering what is the AI bill of rights? Well according to The White House, the AI bill of rights consists of five
principles. These five principles are: Safe and Effective systems, algorithmic discrimination, data privacy, notice and explanation and
human alternatives. Now let’s talk about the 1st principle, Safe and Effective system. Safe and Effective system is just that, it
promises that our private data will be safe. Next let’s talk about the 2nd principle, Algorithm discrimination. Algorithm discrimination
simply protects our rights from being discriminated by automated systems. The 3rd principle is Data Privacy, this implies protection of
our data and rights. Fourthly, Notice and Explanation are reassured by the AI bill of rights to notify us of decisions made. Lastly,
human alternatives are when we have plans for when automated systems are not doing their job correctly and you should have
authorization to make changes when necessary (AI Bill of rights). Yes, you have rights and so does your data.
With this new AI Bill of Rights taking effect. Users have more rights and control concerning their private data. In addition to that
companies who we decide to trust with our sensitive data have a responsibility to protect our data by only allowing necessary
information to be revealed. In my opinion I think AI is great for so many things but can get out of hand sometimes but if we practice
this new technology, we can overcome the struggles and challenges AI certainly brings.
In conclusion, as I grow with this new technology, I believe that ai is growing with me and not just me, its growing with everyone
and as get older AI is making more changes, day by day and while I’m still young I want to experience this new technology to my best
ability. Rights should be established to all citizens and big companies have a responsibility in helping its customers protect their
privacy. Ones data should be protected at all costs from the occasional computer user to the frequent.