M-% || M-x query-replace

M-% || M-x query-replace

Sachin’s random thoughts.

23 Feb 2024

Failing at Privacy in College

Goals

When talking about this, I want to first establish a threat model. I will follow the questions listed in the privacy guides1 site.

What do I want to protect?

I want to protect mass aggregation of my data

Who do I want to protect it from?

The actors are usually large advertising based corporations; Microsoft, Google, Facebook… (surveillance capitalism).

How likely is it that I will need to protect it?

It is likely. These corporations collect data every time you (or often your social network) interact with their services2.

How bad are the consequences if I fail?

One piece of data here and there may not influence too much (potentially unless it connects you with another person). The goal is to avoid mass aggregation.

How much trouble am I willing to go through to try to prevent potential consequences?

I need a degree. Whatever I can do up to the point of jeopardizing my degree.3

What is special about Educational Environments?

Ultimately, it has to do a lot with lack of power you have as a student. You are beholden to the requirements of the university.

Educational Technology Requirements

University Requirements

These are a few of the requirements from the University:

may be specific to NYU

  • Mac/Windows Computer
  • Google Mail
  • Google Calendar
  • Google Chat
  • Shibboleth (identity verification)
  • DocuSign
  • Brightspace (classroom software)
  • Zoom
  • Cisco Anyconnect
  • The slurry of campus apps
    • NYU Mobile app -> for events and other stuff
    • NYU Bus app
    • NYU Safe

Professor Requirements

These are a few of the requirements from my Professors:

may be specific to NYU

  • GitHub
  • TurningPoint
  • Google Classroom
  • Google Drive

Social Requirements

Peer pressure and social expectations are real even for the nerdiest cs student.

Common social apps (Bold are apps I couldn’t avoid):

  • GroupMe
  • Discord
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Snapchat
  • other common social media

What can you do?

I started this post November 10th, 2023, and then stopped at this heading.

I think it is because I have no answers. I just decided to post it. I guess just try your best 🥲.

  1. Super interesting non-profit site. Check out their mastodon, blog, and forum ↩︎

  2. This is an assumption, I don’t have references for this. ↩︎

  3. I think that this is still a scale of risk. It is not likely that there will be one singular preventing action. ↩︎