"Hi! My name is 127.02.06.340!"
It may be weird to introduce ourselves as numbers, but we do it all the time each time we logged on to the Internet using our Internet Protocol (IP) address. Every device connected to the Internet is assigned an IP address. And various people with different interests are able to identify us based on our IP addresses. Forget anonymity, as IP address completely destroys anonymity. I thought we are in control of what information about us to reveal, to who we give that information to and for what purposes. It seems that, that's not the case anymore.
As Lessig points out, when we visit certain websites, they collect data about us. And this data can be used for various purposes, but he seemed to be focusing on marketing strategy. I don't know how it works crystal clear, either. But I'm assuming that it's not just when we make a purchase on the Internet. IP address makes it possible for them to collect data through the sites we've visited. If they see that you enter their website from a sports website, they may assume that you are athletic. They will add that to their ever-growing list of data. Who knows who have access to that data. Then, somehow you start receiving junk mails giving offers on sports equipments. And when you visit certain websites, it seems that the ads relate more and more to your particular interest.
Some people might have no trouble with this. They don't want to be bother with ads that has no relation to their interest. But, I personally think that this is not good. I don't want big companies to shape my interest. I want to have the ability to choose from a wide variety of selection. Because if everything about me is fit into a pattern, isn't life dull?
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Fadhilah’s posting reminded me of never-ending junk mails that I received from Amazon.com almost every week since I bought a bag and a shoe from that website. I find that it is very annoying and I keep wondering, how they know my interest and always updating new things available on their website that suits my interest. If the mails are not being sent to me frequently, I will not be annoyed with that. But, when it is happening in the long run, I feel that my privacy is being disturbed. When I recap the moment I bought those things, I willingly accept with the agreement that my personal information and the purchase details of mine are being recorded by the company. If we want to buy things from such online shopping website, there is no other ways than agree with the agreement presented. However, this is the reality that we need to face albeit we do not like our personal information known by other people.
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