238. The Information Disruption Industry and the Operational Environment of the Future
[Editor’s Note: Today’s post by guest blogger and freshly proclaimed Mad Scientist Vincent H. O’Neil was the runner-up in our recent Mad Scientist Operational Environment in 2035 Writing Contest. Mr. O’Neil also presented on this topic yesterday in the first of our series of on-line Weaponized Information events (click here to watch it). Now you can read his complementary post, predicting the emergence of the Information Disruption Industry (IDI), how the democratization and commercialization of this capability will lead to the continuous and widespread disruption of the Information Environment, and what measures we can take to prepare for and help mitigate its effects on future Warfighters in the Operational Environment — Read on!]
Summary
Use of everyday technology to collect personal data is increasing, and has already raised concerns about violations of privacy. Those collection efforts will continue to grow, because the data has a substantial value and can be sold. As these efforts become more intrusive, popular resentment will also grow. A tipping point is likely to be reached where the resentment changes to action. At that time, existing privacy protection services will expand enormously—and create a new industry dedicated to disrupting the collection, storage, and sale of personal data. It will be profitable and popular because its clients will believe this industry is defending their individual privacy. For the rest of this paper, this new industry will be referred to as the Information Disruption Industry or the IDI.
The IDI will attack the collection, storage, and dissemination of personal data at every level and every step in those processes. Its techniques will range from sophisticated efforts to alter collected information to cruder methods designed to crash entire systems. The increasingly interconnected nature of the technological world will render many systems—even those completely unrelated to personal data collection—vulnerable to second-order effects from these attacks.
This likely scenario has the potential to seriously damage the information landscape in 2035, if not sooner. Operating in this future environment calls for a broad approach designed to combat the wide-ranging impact of this disruption industry once it has gained social acceptance and popular funding.....MUCH MORE
The Current Situation
Use of everyday technology to collect personal data is increasing, and has already raised privacy concerns. The collection of this data is a lucrative business, as the information can be sold and resold.
Most people are already aware of this collection, through personal experience and the news:
Resentment against this data aggregation increases when the targets of the collection realize they’re paying for it. Devices inside their phones and cars are being used to track and report their behavior, habits, and movements. Additionally, those devices can be accessed as part of legal proceedings, frequently to the detriment of the individuals paying for them.
- Mentioning a specific product in an electronic communication often leads to the appearance of online advertising reflecting that product
- Cases such as the Cambridge Analytica scandal demonstrate that large-scale collection of personal data is being conducted without public consent
- Frequent news stories concerning data breaches at large corporations feed the belief that, despite claims to the contrary, no collected information is safe
The Tipping Point
As the technology improves, these collection efforts are likely to become even more intrusive—which will increase popular resentment. This is likely to reach a tipping point where that dissatisfaction turns into action.
Public opinion could be shifted from grudging acceptance to outright resistance by just a few news stories highlighting harmful privacy violations:
It won’t take many of these stories to make the general populace view personal data collection efforts as an actual threat to their livelihoods, liberty, and even their lives.
- Domestic violence victims hiding from their tormentors who were located and murdered through technological tracking
- Court cases where personal data collection provided circumstantial—but misleading—evidence that convicted innocent people
- Social media analysis by employers and/or universities that rejected qualified candidates
Expansion of the Disruption Industry
Once people see data collection and technological tracking as a threat, they will pay to protect themselves. That funding will generate the IDI.
The talent pool to staff this industry already exists. Tech-savvy individuals have been disrupting systems for many decades, for fun and profit, and they will be joined by technology professionals once society indicates its approval. Some of these professionals will come from the collection industry itself. People who were employed as personal data gatherers will leave those jobs to become subject matter experts in disrupter organizations. The pay is likely to be better, and their new jobs will be much more socially acceptable than their old ones. Their expertise will identify the vulnerabilities of systems and organizations that gather and sell personal information....
Information Warfare: A U.S. Army Mad Scientist Series of Virtual Events by U.S. Army Futures Command, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and Ge...
I shall virtually attend virtually incognito, they will never recognize me:
As seen in December 2019's "ICYMI: The Most Valuable AI Start-up Inthe World Does Facial Recognition".
