Privacy: Internet Responsibility

Lessig discusses in Code the advantages and disadvantages of individually targeted ads, based on a system of data collection. Lessig discusses that one advantage is that the consumer would be encouraged to make voluntary transactions because the ads would be better targeted. One disadvantage might be that the records that keep the consumer’s personal information could be invasive of his/her privacy. Lessig talks about how another potential disadvantage of the consumer-targeted computer ads could be that the consumer would experience a flood of well-targeted advertising and become overwhelmed.

In class, it was discussed that certain consumer groups, such as older generations, may not be as aware of the data collection and resulting well-targeted advertising and may become manipulated into purchasing the advertized products. One argument against that was presented in the class discussion was that if the consumer is on the internet, then it is his/her responsibility to educate his/herself about dangers of the internet. In other words, not being aware of the well-targeted ads, and thus allowing oneself to be manipulated is the consumer’s fault. I completely disagree with this statement. It is expected of almost any American today, that he/she has a computer and uses the internet. If someone emails another person, for example, and the person does not check his/her email regularly, that person is considered irresponsible and at fault. This is because the internet has become such a norm for communication. If society expects everyone (even older, less computer-savvy individuals) to use the internet, then they need to make sure that the internet, and its well-targeted ads are user (including older user)-friendly. In other words, if it is expected of non computer-savvy individuals to be on the internet because it is the responsible thing to do, then it should expected of the internet to take this into consideration, not take advantage of it.