EOTO #2: Reactions

I learned an abundance of information from my class' Each One Teach One: Terms and Concepts presentations. 

Total Information Awareness

One particular topic that I found intriguing was Ananda's presentation on Total Information Awareness. She defined it as a concept involving the collection and analysis of vast amounts of data to predict behaviors or identify potential threats. It was used as part of the United States' counterterrorism initiative after the 9/11 tragedy.

Data integration is used to build profiles of individuals and groups to identify potential threats. Communications, travel, social interactions, and more are constantly surveilled with technology, such as facial recognition. It also involves predictive analytics, which is used to predict crime and fraud before it happens.

The benefits of Total Information Awareness involve increased security and prevention, as well as efficiency and convenience. The downsides of this concept include a loss of privacy and potential government overreach. It can result in a cultural shift in society, where people self-censor and adjust their actions due to constant government surveillance.

I think Total Information Awareness is a useful tool for preventing terrorism, but it definitely feels invasive of privacy. Many people probably feel uncomfortable continuing on with their everyday tasks and activities while knowing they are being watched. 

How secure is access to the surveillance and facial recognition data against online hackers? Will issues arise if other countries gain access to the United States' information? Overall, Total Information Awareness can be beneficial, but comes with many concerns that the citizens who are being surveilled might not be comfortable with.