| Is it possible to data mine social networks in such a | | | | nearest cell phone, to another near cell phone, to the |
| way to does not hurt the privacy of the individual user, | | | | person which is intended to receive it. And the data |
| and if so, can we justify doing such? It wasn't too long | | | | passing through each mobile device, will not be able to |
| ago the CEO of Google stated that it was important | | | | read any of the information which was it is not |
| that they were able to keep data of Google searches | | | | assigned to receive as it wasn't sent to it. By using |
| so they can find disease, flu, and food born medical | | | | such a scheme telecommunication companies can |
| clusters. By using this data and studying the regions in | | | | expand their services without building more new cell |
| the searches to help fight against outbreaks of | | | | towers, and therefore they can lower the price. |
| diseases, or food borne illnesses in the distribution | | | | However, it also means that when you lay your cell |
| system. This is one good reason to store the data, and | | | | phone on the table, and it is turned on it would be |
| collect it for research, as long as it is anonomized, then | | | | constantly passing data through it, data which is not |
| theoretically no one is hurt. | | | | yours, and you are not getting paid for that, even |
| Unfortunately, this also scares the users, because they | | | | though you had to purchase the smart phone. But if |
| know if the searches are indeed stored, this data can | | | | the phone was given to you, with a large battery, so it |
| be used against them in the future, for instance, higher | | | | wouldn't go dead during all those transmissions, you |
| insurance rates, bombardment of advertising, or get | | | | probably wouldn't care, as long as your data packets |
| them put onto some sort of future government | | | | of information were indeed safe and no one else could |
| "thought police" watch-list. Especially considering all the | | | | read them. |
| political correctness, and new ways of defining hate | | | | This technology exists now, and is being discussed, |
| speech, bullying, and what is, what isn't, and what might | | | | and consider if you will that the whole strategy of |
| be a domestically home-grown terrorist. The future | | | | networking smart cell phones or personal tech devices |
| concept of the thought police is very scary to most | | | | together is nothing new. For instance, the same |
| folks. | | | | strategies have been designed for satellites, and to |
| Usually if you want to collect data from a user, you | | | | use an analogy, this scheme is very similar to the |
| have to give them something back in return, and | | | | strategies FedEx uses when it sends packages to the |
| therefore they are willing to sign away certain privacy | | | | next nearest FedEx office if that is their destination, |
| rights on that data in trade for the use of such | | | | without sending all of the packages all the way across |
| services; such as on their cell phone, perhaps a free | | | | the country to the central Memphis sort, and then all |
| iPhone app or a virtual product in an online social | | | | the way back again. They are saving time, fuel, space, |
| network. | | | | and energy, and if cell phones did this it would save the |
| Artificially Intelligent Search Features | | | | telecommunication companies mega bucks in the |
| It is no surprised that AI search features are getting | | | | savings of building new cell towers. |
| smarter, even able to anticipate your next search | | | | As long as you got a free cell phone, which many of |
| question, or what you are really trying to ask, even | | | | us do, unless we have the mega top of the line edition, |
| second guessing your question for instance. Now then, | | | | and if they gave you a long-lasting free battery it is |
| let's discuss this for a moment. Many folks very much | | | | win-win for the user. You probably wouldn't care, and |
| enjoy the features of search features, which use | | | | the telecommunication companies could most likely |
| artificial intelligence to recommend potential other | | | | lower the cost of services, and not need to upgrade |
| books, which they might be interested in. And | | | | their system, because they can carry a lot more data, |
| therefore the user probably does not mind giving away | | | | without hundreds of billions of dollars in future |
| information about itself, for this upgraded service or | | | | investments. |
| ability, nor would the person mind having cookies put | | | | Also a net centric system like this is safer to disruption |
| onto their Web browser. | | | | in the event of an emergency, when emergency |
| Nevertheless, these types of systems are always | | | | communications systems take precedence, putting |
| exploited for other purposes. For instance consider the | | | | every cell phone user as secondary traffic at the cell |
| Federal Trade Commission's do not call list, and | | | | towers, which means their calls may not even get |
| consider how many corporations, political party | | | | through. |
| organizations, and all of their affiliates and partners | | | | Next, the last thing the telecommunication company |
| were able to bypass these rules due to the fact that | | | | would want to do is to data mine that data, or those |
| the consumer or customer had bought something from | | | | packets of information from people like a soccer mom |
| them in the last six months. This is not what | | | | calling her son waiting at the bus stop at school. And |
| consumers or customers had in mind when they | | | | anyone with a cell phone certainly wouldn't want their |
| decided they wanted to have this "do not call list" and | | | | packets of information being stolen from them and |
| the resultant and response from the market place, well, | | | | rerouted because someone near them hacked into the |
| it proves we cannot trust the telecommunication | | | | system and had a cell phone that was displaying all of |
| companies, their lobbyists, or the insiders within their | | | | their information. |
| group (many of which over the years have indeed | | | | You can see the problems with all this, but you can |
| been somehow connected to the intelligence agencies | | | | also see the incredible economies of scale by making |
| - AT&T - NSA Echelon for example.) | | | | each and every cell phone a transmitter and receiver, |
| Now then, this article is in no way to be considered a | | | | which it already is in principle anyway, at least now for |
| conspiracy theory, it is just a known fact, yes national | | | | all data you send and receive. In the new system, if all |
| security does need access to such information, and | | | | the data which is closest by is able to transfer through |
| often it might be relevant, catching bad guys, terrorists, | | | | it, and send that data on its way. The receiving cell |
| spies, etc. The NSA is to protect the American People. | | | | phone would wait for all the packets of data were in, |
| However, when it comes to the telecommunication | | | | and then display the information. |
| companies, their job is to protect shareholder's equity, | | | | You can see why such a system also might cause |
| maximize quarterly profits, expand their business | | | | people to have a problem with it because of what |
| models, and create new profit centers in their | | | | they call net neutrality. If someone was downloading a |
| corporations. | | | | movie onto their iPad using a 3G or 4G wireless |
| Thus, such user data will be and has been exploited | | | | network, it could tie up all the cell phones nearby that |
| for future profits against the wishes of the consumer, | | | | were moving the data through them. In this case, it |
| without the consumer benefiting from free services for | | | | might upset consumers, but if that traffic could be |
| lower prices in any way. If there is an explained | | | | somewhat delayed by priority based on an AI |
| reason, trade-off, and a monetary consideration, the | | | | algorithm decision matrix, something simple, then such a |
| consumer might feel obliged to have additional calls | | | | tactic for packet distribution plan might allow for this to |
| bothering them while they are at home, additional | | | | occur without disruption from the actual cell tower, |
| advertising, and tracking of their preferences for ease | | | | meaning everyone would be better off. Therefore we |
| of use and suggestions. What types of suggestions? | | | | all get information flow faster, more dispersed, and |
| Well, there is a Starbucks two-blocks from here, turn | | | | therefore safer from intruders. Please consider all this. |
| right, then turn left and it is 200 yards, with parking | | | | References; |
| available; "Sale on Frappachinos for gold-card holders | | | | |
| today!" In this case the telecommunication company | | | | 1. "Privacy on the Line - The Politics of Wiretapping and |
| tracks your location, knows your preferences, and | | | | Encryption," by Whitfield Diffie and Susan Landau, MIT |
| collects a small fee from Starbucks, and you get a | | | | Press, Cambridge, MA, (1999), pp. 364, ISBN: |
| free-phone, and 20% off your monthly 4G wireless | | | | 0-262-04167-7. |
| fee. Is that something a consumer might want; when | | | | 2. Wall Street Journal Article; "On the Web's Cutting |
| asked 75% of consumers or smart phone users say; | | | | Edge, Anonymity in Name Only," by Emily Steel and |
| yes. See that point? | | | | Julia Angwin. |
| In the future smart phones may have data transferred | | | | 3. WSJ article; "The Great Privacy Debate," by Jim |
| between them, rather than going through a given or | | | | Harper of Cato Institute, and Nicholas Carr author, |
| closest cell tower. In other words, packets of | | | | Saturday-Sunday Edition, August 7-8, 2010. |
| information may go from your cell phone, to the next | | | | |