this post was submitted on 16 Apr 2024
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Privacy

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Today I was contacted by someone at work. She graduated school with me and our 20 year reunion was coming up. Why did she contact me at work? It was the only way they were able to track me down. I was included in promotional material by name. She told me I "was the hardest to track down"and I had to smile.

This is just a small anecdote about privacy practices and their real life impact (and how your employer can undo all of it, I guess)

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[–] [email protected] 168 points 8 months ago (7 children)

Call me pessimistic, but I do think:

  • Privacy is an illusion.
  • Control is an illusion (a reference to Mr. Robot).

Certainly, we can do a lot to have more privacy, but it is an illusion to think that we have complete control over it. Especially with social media, jobs, and today's technology.

[–] [email protected] 88 points 8 months ago (7 children)

You're right, but that doesn't mean we have to give up completely.

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 8 months ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 102 points 8 months ago (4 children)

I had this argument with my boss and lost. They made all of us take photos that they posted on the company website. I said I'm working pretty hard on making myself invisible and don't appreciate being forced to out myself like this. Tough shit. My name picture and contact info are out there for all to see.

[–] [email protected] 96 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

They showed you how much they value you: less than a name and photo on their website. Sorry, bruv. I wish they had respected your wishes.

[–] [email protected] 54 points 8 months ago (1 children)

What the fuck? Where are you from? That would be illegal in germany. If you don't want to be in the internet, they can't just force you.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 8 months ago

I think this would be illegal in California too

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Username checks out

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[–] [email protected] 85 points 8 months ago (2 children)

My 10y reunion is coming up, and im like 99% sure that nobody will be able to find me lol.
Im not in contact with anyone, and ive even changed my name and as far as i know none of them know the new one either :')

[–] [email protected] 19 points 8 months ago

Have your parents and siblings changed their everything as well? That's how I would try to find someone I went to school with.

[–] [email protected] 61 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

I have a Google Alert set up, so I get notified in case my name pops up on the web. A month after I joined a new company, I got an alert - turned out that their internal directory page was exposed to the public web. I was pretty livid - all this time I was proud of maintaining good anonymity, looking up my name never returned anything meaningful on Google. So I complained to my boss about this, and he said it was actually a bug/misconfiguration - which they were already aware of, but didn't bother fixing it because no one complained. I was super pissed and made it very clear that it was a violation of my privacy and I wanted it taken down ASAP. Thankfully my boss was understanding and got it fixed. Then I had to report the page to Google. It took a while, but it was finally gone from the search results.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 8 months ago (1 children)

To help with this in the future, you can also create several fake results sharing your real name. Stuff like a blogger with one post not in your writing style, etc.. This will dilute searches with disinformation. Removal of real data is important, but you can also confuse anyone looking.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

You could use an AI generated fake face and fake history too if your name is unique to make people think they either found the wrong person or make them unsure of the other listings mentioning you with only your name as an identifier

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago

Calm down Dexter. We all know your secret!

[–] [email protected] 54 points 8 months ago (3 children)

In terms of online presence I think one has to be careful about becoming too private - at what point do you become so untrackable that even people you would like to find you (I.e. old friends) can't anymore.

[–] [email protected] 88 points 8 months ago (2 children)

i really don't want old friends or distant family finding me though

[–] [email protected] 51 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Agreed. If I am not in contact with you there is a reason.

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[–] [email protected] 43 points 8 months ago

I would fully like to erase my online presence. I dont want people seeking me out.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I have a website that shows up when someone searches my name on the internet and an email there. This way people are able to contact me and I don't have to use any spyware like Facebook.

But whether that works for you depends on your threat model, I guess.

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[–] [email protected] 51 points 8 months ago

I guess you can ask her how she managed to track you... later on do the necessary adjustments.

[–] [email protected] 32 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Anyone can be found, the only question is how much effort people are willing to put into finding them.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 8 months ago (4 children)

Can you help find Jan Marsalek?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

He has been found in Russia living with a fake identity of an orthodox priest, likely facilitated by the FSB.

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[–] [email protected] 30 points 8 months ago (3 children)

As the Eric Cartman of my school. I will not have this problem.

[–] [email protected] 38 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I don't understand. Are you saying you're a racist, abusive, narcissistic fuckhead? Or that you're fat?

[–] [email protected] 31 points 8 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago (4 children)
[–] [email protected] 13 points 8 months ago (3 children)

Um, why does it matter? He matured and changed. It's a positive attribute, not a negative one.

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[–] [email protected] 26 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

At least she didn’t hire a private investigator.

A human hunting for you can be pretty effective.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 8 months ago (3 children)

Worlds most dangerous game

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 8 months ago

It seems better than having the FBI track you down (not that they need too as they track all of us all the time)

[–] [email protected] 12 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I've been told by classmates that I am on the "unable to track down" list for my school.

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 8 months ago

Luckily I hated everyone in highschool and they never bothered me again once I left. If this has happened to me I'd have laughed in their face.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago

Well, at least you were wanted.

I'm pretty sure they called my cell all week during work hours. Place had horrible reception so if the call came through at all, i couldnt answer cause well, im at work.

But nobody ever left a message so shrug

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Sucks they were able to find you this way. That's why I always use a pseudonym.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 8 months ago (1 children)
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