when an ad for discrimination becomes an exercise in surveillance

when an ad for discrimination becomes an exercise in surveillance

I came across an ad that claimed to be about discrimination. But as I went through it, I became increasingly concerned that it was really collecting information about who is gay and who is straight.

I stated that I identified as a straight woman, and I was kicked out.

Let that sink in.

I've been on the web since before most people even knew what the web was. I know about surveillance, data collection and how information can be used. And yet, I still got sucked in.

If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.

This is dangerous territory. Our personal information is valuable, and information about our identities, beliefs and private lives can be used in ways we never intended or agreed to.

With a new government that may challenge our human rights and the protections many of us have taken for granted, we need to be proactive. We cannot wait until those rights are threatened to start paying attention.

Protect yourself. Question everything.

Before you participate in an online survey, click an ad or answer questions about your personal life, ask yourself:

Who is collecting this information? Why do they want it? Where will it go? Who will have access to it? And what happens if it falls into the wrong hands?

Don't assume something is safe just because it claims to support equality or fight discrimination. Look at the privacy policy. Check who is behind it. Be careful about what you disclose.

I'm sharing this because even people who know the internet can still be caught off guard.

We need to talk about digital privacy, surveillance and human rights before the damage is done.

Have you ever participated in an online survey or campaign and later wondered what information you had actually handed over?

Let's be more careful out there. Our rights, our privacy and our personal information matter.