MODULE 7 DISCUSSIONS-Emerging and Rambling
COLLAPSE
As we close out the class, use this module to raise any interesting issues on your mind. For example, I am concerned about the ability of Amazon’s AI devices to “spy” on customers. (I do not own such a device).
Also, since I am a passionate defender of the right to privacy, I am uncomfortable with the data coming from any modern phone. (I wish I had invested in the “burner phone” industry……).
I had a student who considered suing a respectable dating app, for which payment was required, for fraud and misrepresentation. (Consider: please make an effort to under the FTC’s jurisdiction in cyber fraud matters……..)
Whats on your mind?
Ahem…..Please be sure to complete a course evaluation. I happen to serve without tenure or job security, so favorable comments, if earned, are always appreciated, though never required………
example 1
Whenever I hear the talk about the government and private enterprises and how they are spying on people to collect private data whether it was for political or business purposes, I don’t feel really scared or even care about the matter not because I believe that we live in a time where privacy is almost impossible but because I was born and raised in a police state country so I am used to being monitored all the time. I do understand the importance of privacy but with the technological advancement and the way it works I think privacy is no more a right, it is more of a privilege. People nowadays have to choose between privacy and technology and they cannot choose both.
A personal concern of mine is automated Bots presence online, we all saw how the sale of PS5 went in the last couple of week and how scalpers used automated bots to purchase large quantities for the purpose of selling it again on eBay and other websites for a huge profit margin. This method is depriving legit customers of fair opportunity for online purchase as humans cannot be faster that a bot. earlier this year the 16 years old Nate created a software called Bird Bot, a software that allowed him to cut retailers’ digital lines. according to the Washington Post the software enabled Nate to purchase enough Nintendo Switch consoles to create a global shortage. automated Bots is mainly used in the sneakers online markets and the tickets market, in 2016 the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act were passed by the congress which made it illegal to purchase tickets to events in mass quantities, the act fell short and did not really help solving the issue. In 2019 the Stopping Grinch Bots bill was introduced to the house of representatives, this bill makes it unlawful to use automated tools (i.e., bots) to intentionally bypass a website’s security measures in order to purchase and resell its products or services in interstate commerce. we will have to wait and see whether this bill pass or not.
The real issue with the automated Bots is its influence on social media and public opinion, studies shows that the bots traffic grew 26 percent in 2019, making it account for 24 percent of the internet total traffic. Studies also estimate that about 15% of twitter traffic is generated by bots. Bots are using the AI technology to mimic human behavior which makes it much harder to detect and much smarter than the ruled based bots. The bots are becoming more dangerous every day as they pose as legitimate accounts on social media, following people, gaining followers, interacting with news and giving a wrong impression that certain information or opinions, regardless of its accuracy and morality, are highly popular. This type of behavior is affecting our daily lives. According to a study made the University of Oxford, in the 2016 US election and during the TV debates, bots generated more than 3.8 million tweets about the debate, manipulating the political opinion in the US in favor of one candidate against the other. Bots were also used to boost and hype up the Brexit campaign. the Russians used bots to spread the Ukrainian separatists propaganda in their conflict with Ukraine. Bots are also used to impact the economy and stock markets by spreading inaccurate news that harms the reputation of companies and products. With the availability of Bot farms in countries like Russia, Pakistan and India it is quite easy for malicious entities to try to influence the public opinions and inflect financial damage against their competitors. Google, amazon and retailers are trying to fight bots by using detection mechanisms and restrict terms of service that forbids using automated bots, but all these attempts are falling short without a legislated law that prohibit the use of bots.
References:
Bracken, B. (2020, November 10).
Scalper-Bots Shake Down Desperate PS5, Xbox Series X Shoppers
. Retrieved from threatpost:
https://threatpost.com/scalper-bots-shake-down-des…
CONGRESS.GOV. (2019, November 22).
H.R.5263 – Stopping Grinch Bots Act of 2019
. Retrieved from CONGRESS.GOV: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5263/all-info?r=2&s=1#:~:text=Introduced%20in%20House%20(11%2F22%2F2019)&text=This%20bill%20makes%20it%20unlawful,or%20services%20in%20interstate%20commerce.
team, b. (2020, March 31).
Social Bots – Detection and Impact on Social and Political Events
. Retrieved from boxcryptor:
https://www.boxcryptor.com/en/blog/post/social-bot…
example 2
Planned obsolescence describes a strategy of deliberately ensuring that the current version of a given product will become out of date or useless within a known time period. This proactive move guarantees that consumers will seek replacements in the future, thus bolstering demand. Obsolescence can be achieved through introducing a superior replacement model, or by intentionally designing a product to cease proper function within a specific window. In either case, consumers will theoretically favor the next generational products over the old ones. Several sectors are more well known for planned obsolescence than others. In fashion, it’s widely accepted that nylon stockings are destined to run, thereby requiring routine replacement.
Meanwhile, in technology, the replacement cycle for personal electronic devices such as smartphones has historically been two to three years because components begin to wear down and new generations of software and operating systems grow less compatible with the aging hardware. Furthermore, the software is also often designed to include new features and file types that are incompatible with old versions of the program.
Consumers often react negatively to planned obsolescence, especially if new generations of products offer insufficient improvements over the prior versions. Brands can be tarnished by artificially stoking demand through this method, ultimately driving customers away. However, planned obsolescence doesn’t always receive negative attention. Companies can engage in this activity solely as a means of controlling costs. For example, a cellphone manufacturer may decide to use parts in its phones that have a maximum lifespan of five years, instead of parts that could last 20 years.
