Preventing Illegal Downloading

This week in class we discussed copyright laws and fair use policies implemented by the media and government. Despite these laws and regulations being in place, there are still countless acts of piracy and copyright infringement committed daily. With the technology we have at our disposal, illegal downloading has become easier than ever. However, I believe there are ways to reduce and ultimately eliminate these types of activities.

First, the government and our Internet providers must take an active role in preventing piracy. In order to prevent people from illegally downloading media, we must prevent them from reaching websites that promote such actions.  The government should monitor suspicious websites, and block the sites that are found to be aiding people in the illegal download of media. Internet providers should also be able to monitor suspicious activity on their networks. Internet providers can then report or block suspicious sites, or suspend people’s Internet service as a punishment for the illegal download of media.

Another option involves the entertainment industry, celebrities, and famous musical artists. I believe people can be influenced if they are made aware of the seriousness of their actions. Through the use of PSAs and other commercials, people in the music industry can raise awareness about the illegal downloading of media. If people see their favorite celebrities asking them to help stop media piracy, maybe they will be influenced to make a stand.

Finally, media companies such as YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu should create security measures that prevent the illegal download of media. If these companies were able to create codes that prevented the copying of media, our piracy problem would be solved. Millions of people use these companies to illegally download and share media. By encrypting their media, these companies would be better protecting themselves and their content providers from piracy.

Privacy and Personalization: Risk vs. Reward

As technology continues to advance, so do peoples’ expectations. Today our standards for technology are higher than ever. With so many different personalization options, people now believe that technology should be cooperative. We expect our websites, our phones, and our computers to remember us and adapt to us. From being able to change the layouts of websites, to remembering passwords and other critical information, technology provides each person with a personalized, unique experience. Personalization has helped technology by creating greater convenience for its users. People can personalize settings and layouts that make for a smoother, easier interactive experience. However, how is this personalization affecting our security and safety?

When we personalize technology, we must understand the risks we are taking. If I go to a website that asks for my name, my age, and my gender, I must be aware of the pros and cons for releasing that information. The website my use that information to match me with different articles and things I will find interesting, or the website might sell that information to advertisers. While websites use these personalization tools to create a better experience for the users, we must be aware of who else is seeing our information. Today, social media websites have made a lot of money selling the information of their users. However, many users may not have agreed or wanted to release that information. How is this fair? When we first posted our information to things such as Facebook and Twitter, we had no idea the sites would sell our information and privacy. While the personal information we share might not be secretive, it is still an invasion of our privacy to sell that information without us knowing. Websites and other forms of technology should be required to be transparent with users on the usage of their information. We should be clearly notified how our information will be used, and updated when it is sold or exchanged to advertisers or other third-party members.