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Re: [projectvrm] Hyper Local Tracking - An NSA that Teaches


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  • From: Marc Lauritsen < >
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  • Subject: Re: [projectvrm] Hyper Local Tracking - An NSA that Teaches
  • Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2014 10:39:53 -0400

I've been teaching courses at a couple law schools in which students build software applications as part of their work, under an 'Apps 4 Justice' banner.  This fall I'm doing a variant at Suffolk Law School in Boston in which the emphasis will be on decision support applications.  ( See http://conference.cali.org/2014/sessions/preparing-students-factory-work-and-choice-jobs for a talk about it this Thursday in Cambridge.) 

Your post reminds me that I should include a segment on the many ways in which we're all vulnerable to manipulation by vendors and others who sculpt online experiences based on surreptitiously gathered data about our activities and preferences.

On 6/13/2014 1:01 PM, Devon M T Loffreto wrote:
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I know we have something of a burgeoning community of educators and activists on this list, and I am wondering if others involved in local "tech education" have been using communication methods that introduce people to the nature and scale of data tracking that is possible using "teachable moments" approaches?

What do I mean?

In teaching young kids + parents + teachers how to code and engage various technologies within live events, part of the process is introducing infosec methods into homes that are a bit naive about basic protections... we get to see the computers that these kids are using, and run into the spyware or worse in the process. Some of our virtual events allow us to provide remote support, and its a real eye opener.

So we have started overtly using our data tracking capabilities in good faith with our community so that we can educate at live events what "surveillance marketing" actually means/looks like/behaves like/etc... and it really freaks the parents out...while the kids just LOVE it...maybe a bit too much even, to start...which prompts the whole black hat/ white hat hacker conversation.

It occurred to a few of us that these methods are akin to having something of an NSA moment that teaches...for people personally.

Just wondering if in communicating/ marketing why vrm matters to people outside of this direct list, if anyone is using such methods?

Obviously, Facebook and the NSA have done much for the conversation around these topics...the positive whispers while the negative screams after all... and the goal is change. One thing to create solutions... another to create awareness of the problem in the gen pop.

Also... just to throw in a bonus link... with regard to network v silo thinking that this list has been discussing... I found this from 2012, which has been getting some activity lately:

Wondering & Instigating,
Devon




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