Algorithms that put democracy at risk? Why privacy is important for the future of democracy and internet.

Companies want to earn money

It is the most logical thing that the main reason for the companies to exist is to make money. The traditional way of making more money was to increase the number of consumers or to reduce the costs of production and this still applies to almost every business in the world but a thing that was always wanted and not always achieved (and still is difficult to earn) was to know better the consumer: the needs, beliefs, location and the wealth are aspects that end reducing the cost of the producer here is where Internet and privacy collide.

When nearly everyone wins

Today to be better than your competitors is important to know your users better,
for this reason, Facebook, Twitter, Google and many other algorithms recommend you what they think you will like the most.

If you like running, you will probably buy some running clothes on the internet and search for apps and tracks to enjoy the sport, then you will see adds about running shoes or adds about sports shops near your house. Up to this point seems that it’s a win-win situation for everyone: You can buy easily with your computer and be in new places, Google wins money for the adds on his browser and local shops make themselves more known to a real possible customer than other less personalized advertising such as TV.

Not as good situations

Then there are other situations where the user benefits are more confusing than before situation such as the recommendations based on what you and your friends like and do.This example is about Facebook because it is the most popular social network but the consequences are similar: The algorithm of Facebook is written in a way that if you like a post that post, similar to that one have a better chance to be in your feed. Then other things such as the location of the user, what profiles he sees and what their friends like and do influence the recommendation algorithm. Although no one apart from some people in Facebook knows what value the algorithm gives for each specific action the truth is this make you more susceptible to see what you already like. If you like cats you will see more cats and fewer dogs and if you have a political view you will see more posts talking about what you already believe than a post with another perspective and opinion. For this reason, some people say Facebook has the power to change the results in an election and for sure some influence it has.

Terrorism is a good reason to lose privacy?

One of the main reasons to violate people’s privacy is to have a more secure country/city but this means having to know more of each citizen. Things as the backdoors in apps like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger allow governments to search for the messages sent by a terrorist or a possible one but also allows a 3rd party to enter in other people phones and know all about their communications.

My thoughts about it

1-We will always have the same problem with privacy and security, choosing to which point a more security is more worth than privacy.
2-There is not a bad intention in what companies do, they want to give us the best experiences because that ends benefiting them economically.
3-Including the people who think they have nothing to hide must know that they have a reason to want privacy and that reason is to don’t let others influence in their opinions without her knowledge.
4-Finally, some warnings from the websites ( as most of them do with cookies) about recommendations is always helpful.

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