Conference at ITU: Online surveillance and privacy
How do we protect our privacy when our devices are constantly tracking our movements? And why should we care? On March 30, Crypto Conference at ITU will present thought-provoking talks and a hands-on workshop where participants can learn to encrypt their own data.
privacyEventsbig data
Written 15 March, 2016 07:30 by Vibeke Arildsen
Facebook knows when you are sleeping, your phone knows your routes through the city, and if the Danish government’s proposed session-logging law becomes a reality, the online activities of all Danes will soon be registered by internet providers. The right to privacy has been under pressure in recent years, as both private companies and government agencies are becoming more interested in our data.
The increasing online surveillance, which goes hand in hand with our mass consumption of smartphones and social media, has inspired two ITU-students to organize a Crypto Conference on March 30 for all who are interested in the discussion about online privacy.
Participants will learn how they are being monitored and how corporations and governments are using the immense amount of personal data that is collected. Throughout the day, participants can also get practical tools for limiting the surveillance on their own devices at a crypto workshop in ITU’s DesignLab.
- When it comes to online surveillance, we are still in the 'Wild West' without any clear rules. We are all excited about all the opportunities offered by the data that is collected, but as we become more and more digitized, it is necessary to understand the consequences of using certain services. We want to enlighten people about what is happening and give them tools to limit the surveillance if they want to do so, says co-organizer Sofus Albertsen.
Government surveillance, EU and big data
Throughout the day, speakers will discuss online surveillance and data encryption from political, technical and legal perspectives. The program features talks by:
Peter Kofod, a journalist and activist, and the first Dane who interviewed whistleblower Edward Snowden. His talk will focus on why governments spend billions of dollars on monitoring individuals.
Henrik Kramshøj, a security expert and self-proclaimed Internet samurai, will provide tips on how to protect yourself against hacking.
Pernille Tranberg, independent data ethics consultant, will explain how large internet companies ‘harvest’ our personal data.
IT lawyer Martin von Haller will discuss the impact of the EU's new Privacy Shield, an attempt to defend the 'right to be forgotten' by for instance search engines and social media.
Associate Professor Irina Shklovski from ITU will talk about the big data hype and the so-called 'Privacy Paradox': that fact that despite security concerns, people are eager share personal information online.
There will be breaks in between the presentations. The crypto workshop will take place concurrently in the adjacent DesignLab.
Vibeke Arildsen, Press Officer, phone 2555 0447, email viar@itu.dk