The Panoptic Web
Panoptic means all-seeing. And that, increasingly, is what our web is becoming. Every single thing we do online, every post, comment, and registered account has been indexed and catalogued. Google your name. Google the username you used on a forum five years ago. I bet you’ll be surprised at how many results you find, going back years and years. The web can see into every corner of your digital life- and so can anyone else who cares to look.
People are already getting fired based on Google searches. And that’s only the beginning. Right now, most everyone under the age of 30 has a MySpace or Facebook account, often posting information that is highly personal. Flash forward 20 or 30 years- for people who are in their teens now and on MySpace, their whole adult life will be chronicled online. Every stupid post, every unbecoming picture, every comment. Some of those people will become politicians, businessmen, world leaders. And yet, for all their importance and dignity, their youthful ramblings will be available for all to scrutinize. Imagine that Facebook existed 30 years ago. What would George Bush’s Facebook account, permanently archived online have looked like? Answer: Like this.
So what of it? With increased prevalence of social networks, it is trivial to correlate a handle with a real name. And if you use the same handle on multiple blogs or message boards, it’s very easy to correlate your posting activity. It’s incredible to think how massive Google’s archive will be in 30 years. And every word you’ve ever uttered will be in it. Such complete transparency isn’t a scary thing- it’s just a fact of life. Embrace it, and look back fondly. I know I do- here’s the dilapidated remnant of first website I’ve ever made, from 2001, very pre-Web 2.0. How far we’ve come…
Further Reading:
Related Posts:
No related posts
Mahalo for the mention. Searching for old friends and aquaintances online has pointed out to me just how careless I’ve been with my own information. Once it’s out there, you can’t take it back. I don’t have any great fear or feel particularly vulnerable, but all of us should think more about the availablity and permanent nature of our personal information before we post it.
mind reader.
http://engtech.wordpress.com/2007/05/11/why-you-could-be-fired-for-blogging/
Accountability is the new rule of the land
Humility is launching us all connected hand in hand
We are the forever that we’ve always known inside
Always on like sunlight and never afraid to die
dream in to dream into dream into real life
We are the the proof: one soul - one mind
Ilya, what a good post. It is amazing indeed how transparent our online communications have become. There is still a big emphasis on privacy and this issue is very soar for e-commmerce businesses, but when it comes to the individual benefits, they are still worthwhile. When, I post anything or do anything online these days and before, I always stick to a rule that if I do not want it to be seen or shared, I should have confided in a pet
One can manage their virtual tracks on the web and make the best of it. Funny also, if I cannot find much googled tracks of someone I am interested in at the moment, it makes it suspicious 
[…] Panoptic means all-seeing. And that, increasingly, is what our web is becoming. Every single thing we do online, every post, comment, and registered account has been indexed and catalogued. Google your name. Google the username you used on a forum five years ago. I bet you’ll be surprised at how many results you find, going back years and years. The web can see into every corner of your digital life- and so can anyone else who cares to look. (more…) […]
[…] Panoptic means all-seeing. And that, increasingly, is what our web is becoming. Every single thing we do online, every post, comment, and registered account has been indexed and catalogued. Google your name. Google the username you used on a forum five years ago. I bet you’ll be surprised at how many results you find, going back years and years. The web can see into every corner of your digital life- and so can anyone else who cares to look. (more…) […]
Privacy is a lost cause. The reasons are technical, so attempt at a legal or political solution is futile. Nevertheless, it makes a difference whether the new “transparency” (q.v. in Wikipedia) is equitable or asymmetric, in which case it amounts to “accountability,” which is not nearly as democratic in its implications. “Panoptic” originally meant one-seeing-all, akin to a security guard ogling a cctv screen in some back room, or the 18th century equivalent. All-seeing-all (for example, the surveillance cameras are -publically- accessible webcams) I can live with, but information doesn’t seem to want to be free, and I am not optimistic about the prospects for freedom, dignity or democracy. And I definitely do not trust Google.
I’m am new to this whole idea of panotic. I am going to do a photography project around my city centered on the concept, idea. design panopticon, whatever you would call it. Can anyone out there have any good ideas of some interesting photos that i could take? I don;t want to just have a bunch of photos containing survelliance cameras in shops and on the streets. Lets hope my lecturer isnt looking at this!!!!!Would be very grateful if any one could get back to me, any piece of knowledge will be welcome!
Im am going to be doing a photography project around this concept, panopticon, in my city…Does anyone of any ideas for some worthwhile photos?? Sorry I had written a longer comment but i some how managed to get rid of it!
Video Strptease Amateur…
Patricia Petite although shemale?! Combination courts associations, killer survival, traveled. …
jessica simpson upsskirt…
Stanley, cattle, mothers institution, quoted returns few allen. Greensboro despite jessica simpson upsskirt jessica simpson upsskirt Nikki Typer! …
puredee…
…
Ambien online no prescription overnight delivery….
Is there a good sleeping beside ambien 10 mg. Ambien with alcohol. Ambien side affects. Ambien. Where can i buy ambien for next day delivery. Generic ambien. Buy ambien….
home webcams iconference webcams home video