Words of Caution

On my last visit to this site, a message popped up, warning me that I must be in compliance with the new laws protecting "data subjects" in the European Union, in case anyone from the European Union, or any company in the European Union, interacts with my posts.

That means there is an algorithm designed to make sure that all of us non-algorithms are aware of and following new laws designed to protect us from abuse by algorithms controlled, at least for now, but corporations that make use of data. The laws say, apparently, that we have a right to learn who has our data, and what they may do with it.

I don't collect data on people. Well, okay, I glance at the data that appears when I click on this site. Mostly it says no one has ever read by blog or commented on it. But if someone did, and that someone was from Europe or lived in Europe, or possibly ever read something about Europe on a website, then the new laws would apply to my site, and any other entity, algorithmic or biological, that I interact with in activities related to this site.

Someone is paying attention, and trying to make rules to allow people to control data that relates to them.

I have seen quite a few notes about updated privacy policies recently. I've even read some. I noticed that Yahoo Mail says that it tracks when I click on Yahoo Mail, and probably also notices who I get emails from and how quickly I delete them without reading them. I think it says the algorithm doesn't scan the content of the emails, just all the details about where they come from and how I use them. It was confusing enough that someone I know dropped her Yahoo Mail account.

I have neither the resources nor the inclination to make direct use of any data about people on the Internet, except clicking and commenting on Facebook and responding to emails. I do send some emails, too. I write here because I can. I am interested in the phenomena of the modern world of data, and the growing power of algorithms. I'm watching to see if they begin to grow into data gods. So far, it's the big companies, with enormous resources, that are controlling the algorithms and using the data. And for the most part, they are not intruding into my life in ways that I have noticed.

But we should all keep our eyes open. The laws were made because someone saw a danger, possibly based on cases of abuse or at least fear. We don't know what might come next.