The Value of Your Personal Data
They know who you are, who your friends are, where you shop and what you browse. They know your unconscious desires. They are the companies that pay top dollar for your data, a treasure trove of personal insights they analyze to attack and manipulate you. Produced by the critically acclaimed VPRO documentary series, The Worth of Your Personal Data reveals their secret practices and shares tips on how to get the upper hand.
Billions of people around the world have access to cell phones, computers and other electronic communication devices. Many people may assume a certain level of privacy when sending emails, exchanging text messages, taking pictures, or sharing posts with close friends on social media. But corporate voyeurs lurk behind your endless stream of digital data. Backed by the insights you continually feed them, they can point you in the direction of the dress you want to buy, capture details of your profile including marital status and sexual orientation, and predict your next move before you even think about it. One step.
Who gets rich off your info, why don’t you get your share? After all, your habits, behaviors, and traits are yours, so fairness requires you to share their value. If privacy is indeed a thing of the past, how much good will it do you to give up your privacy? A panel of experts discuss this interesting concept throughout the film, and their conclusions are insightful and informative.
The value of your personal data doesn’t paint an entirely worrisome picture of big data. Because sharing information in the digital age can do much more than nefarious motives and capitalist greed. In many cases, this data can be used to advance the common good. Social causes can reach wider audiences, inspire action, and medical researchers can make strides in treating chronic diseases. But like many aspects of life, the sharing of personal information is a double-edged sword that needs to be monitored and regulated with careful consideration and care.
Directed by: Martijn Kieft
