The Machines Are Taking Over!

There are undeniable similarities between 1984’s telescreen and modern technology we see today. In modern society, people are eager to purchase the newest and most groundbreaking technology for a wide variety of reasons. Whether it be to fit in, communicate more effectively and remotely, or simply for entertainment,  I believe that there is a certain level of denial involved in how we react to technology’s influence in our lives. The number of devices offered to us only continues to increase. I find it to be alarming that during a typical day at home, I will use an Apple Watch, iPad, iPhone, MacBook, smart oven, and smart speakers.

 Most advanced machine learning technologies such as the mechanisms behind Siri and Alexa are designed to always listen. When I begin to think about this more, it makes me very uncomfortable. In essence, we have devices that are listening to us 24/7, 365 days a year and yet we rarely stop to think about how this could be a potential invasion of privacy. In 2019, Florida police were able to obtain Alexa voice recordings as part of a murder investigation. This surely answers the question of whether or not, this novel technology is able to store data. Of course, as a response, one could simply deactivate feedback services, but very few people choose to actually do so. Our society has gotten to the point where we value convenience and efficiency over a right as fundamental as privacy. While I don’t feel that I have much to hide, if I knew that devices were storing what I was saying and using the recordings for studies or to achieve other objectives it would make me even more paranoid than I already am. I admit, that I sometimes worry that if I am talking about a person, they may somehow hear it through my phone or my phone will accidentally call them. This is enough to launch me into full-blown panic. If I were actually being monitored, my speech would be severely limited. Everyone would have to worry about whether or not their words could be used against them. 

The primary disadvantages of heavily integrated technology that invades the privacy of users are reliance and loss of control. As people become more and more reliant on technology for their day to day activities, they will not be able to go without it. Furthermore, if a person does not have a backup in the event of an emergency, they would be rendered unable to conduct business or other tasks that are regularly completed. 

Personally, I believe privacy to be a right that should never be infringed on. Certainly, there are national security emergencies that warrant an invasion of privacy to protect U.S citizens. On the other hand, in the majority of instances, the government and other entities should respect the privacy of an individual. We should not constantly be monitored as it would not provide any additional benefit for American citizens. All in all, some surveillance will be necessary but it is imperative that there be a balance that allows for the respect of privacy while maintaining the guarantee of safety.