MIT Tech Review: Google Now Tracks Your Credit Card Purchases and Connects Them to Its Online Profile of You (5/25/2017)

[Julia Bernd]

Summary: Describes Google’s new efforts to track offline purchases and connect them to online ad views. Discusses the privacy implications, with some reference to double-blind encryption and deanonymization techniques.

Link: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/607938/google-now-tracks-your-credit-card-purchases-and-connects-them-to-its-online-profile-of-you/

Recommended by a teacher on the BJC Teachers Piazza forum.

Potential Discussion Questions:

• Did you know Google does this kind of tracking? Did you know you’ve agreed to let them do it, if you’ve ever used their services?
• What are the benefits for Google in using this technology?
• Does Google’s description of how it anonymizes the data convince you, or would you still be concerned about your privacy?
• Do you think this is a reasonable way for Google to make money off of its free services? Why or why not?

CSP Global Impact Framework Points:

• LO 7.2.1 Explain how computing has impacted innovations in other fields.
  • EK 7.2.1A Machine learning and data mining have enabled innovation in medicine, business, and science.
• LO 7.3.1 Analyze the beneficial and harmful effects of computing.
  • EK 7.3.1G Privacy and security concerns arise in the development and use of computational systems and artifacts.
  • EK 7.3.1H Aggregation of information, such as geolocation, cookies, and browsing history, raises privacy and security concerns.
  • EK 7.3.1J Technology enables the collection, use, and exploitation of information about, by, and for individuals, groups, and institutions.
  • EK 7.3.1K People can have instant access to vast amounts of information online; accessing this information can enable the collection of both individual and aggregate data that can be used and collected.

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