Social dossiers

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Study Guide

Introduction

Ideas to consider:

  1. Availability of Data. (Secure? Private? Is it accessible to anyone? How do you limit information exclusively to its intended audience.)
  2. Accuracy. (Is there inaccurate data attached to your online identity? Libel/Slander. What if the facts are just wrong?)
  3. Anonymity.
  4. "They should have known better than to..."
  5. Search. Find. Link. -> Repeat. -> Compile: Summary judgment.
  6. Purpose. Why do people investigate other people? (Ex: Human Resources; Customer/Client/Vendor Relations; Obsession/Stalking; Criminal Prosecution; Civil Litigation;

Data availability

Many websites (especially social media sites) allow users to create personal profiles; a substantial portion of those sites allow their content to be indexed by search-agents, and so any content created while using a site may potentially be located easily through basic search queries. The information that is connected to a particular user varies widely and can include very basic information (name, age, gender, locale, etc.) and/or disturbingly detailed information (e.g. mySpaceUserXX aka "Jane Q. User" is single, bisexual, Hispanic, a Unitarian Universalist, an Aquarius, a self-professed alcoholic, works in Accounting/Finance, graduated from Anytown Community College in 2004, etc.).

Social Media Sites       Types of Information  
 
  • Demographics
  • Photographs
  • Videos
  • User Comments
  • Cultural Interests
  • Religion/Creed
  • Political Views
  • Sexual Orientiation
  • Forum Discussions
  • Work History
  • Education History
  • Favorite Videos
  • Friends' Identities
  • Offline Media Tastes

Aggregation motives

Potential Interested Parties:

  • Hiring: Human resources staff and job interviewers' hiring decisions may be influenced by what search-queries reveal. [1] The legality and ethical issues of unofficial google-stalking of potential job candidates is currently under debate. [2]
  • Criminal Prosecution: Prosecutors may use the content you post online to build their case against you; your own social media profile may serve as a character witness against you. [3]
  • Business Contacts: Sales professionals constantly distribute their business cards to prospective clients/customers, so it is foreseeable that a lack of understanding of web privacy by a sales representative (that uses social media sites) could lead to disastrous results for themselves or the company they represent.
  • Insurance Eligibility: "I'm sorry, Mr. Jones, but according to your blog, the following conditions are pre-existing and will require a rider/exclusion for us to even consider giving you a quote..."
  • Stalkers: If you have a lot of information publicly available through social networking profiles, then you have no real defensive strategy against potential stalkers accessing that information. Granted, dedicated stalkers would find a way to obtain sensitive information (e.g. course schedules, work schedule, friends' identities) without using the internet, but social media only increases opportunity and ease, therefore the likelihood of attracting stalkers.

Links & Resources

Job Hunting

In the courts

Stalking

Privacy Resources

Social Search Services

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