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AI & Your Privacy 🔒

Who's Collecting Your Data?

Session 7: Data Privacy & AI

What Data Are Apps Collecting? 📊

Every app on your device is collecting information about you. This data trains AI and targets ads.

What Apps Know About You:

Location: Where you are right now (GPS)
Contacts: Who your friends are
Photos: Everything you photograph
Browsing history: Every website you visit
Keyboard input: Everything you type
Messages: Texts and emails
Voice: What you say (Siri, Alexa)
Behavior: How long you use apps, what you click

App Permissions Explained 🔑

When you install an app, it asks for permissions - permission to access your data.

Common Permissions:

Camera: App can turn on your camera
Microphone: App can listen and record
Location: App knows where you are
Photos: App can see all your pictures
Contacts: App can see your friend list
Calendar: App sees your schedules

Question: Does a flashlight app really need access to your contacts?

Why Companies Want Your Data 💰

Data is extremely valuable. Companies use it to:

Data Use Cases:

Train AI: Your data helps teach AI systems
Ad targeting: Show you relevant advertisements
Sell to advertisers: Ad companies buy your data
Predict behavior: Guess what you'll buy
Improve products: Learn what users like

Remember: If you're not paying for the app, YOU are the product being sold!

Data + AI = Tracking 🎯

Companies combine data about you to create detailed profiles. AI then uses these profiles.

Your Digital Profile Includes:

Interests (sports? music? coding?)
Buying habits (what you purchase)
Health info (if you use fitness apps)
Relationships (who you talk to most)
Location patterns (where you go regularly)
Emotions (based on what you search)

Privacy Settings: Taking Control 🛡️

Most phones and apps let you control what data they collect. You DO have options!

How to Protect Your Privacy:

Check app permissions: Go through each app's settings
Turn off location: Only allow when app is open
Deny unnecessary permissions: Flashlight doesn't need contacts!
Review privacy settings: On YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, etc.
Limit ad targeting: Opt out of personalized ads
Use Do Not Track: Tell websites to not track you

Data Breaches: What Could Go Wrong 😨

Companies don't always keep your data safe. When data is stolen, it's called a data breach.

Major Breaches (Real Examples):

Facebook (2019): 533 million user phone numbers exposed
Zoom (2020): Password information leaked
Instagram: Millions of accounts hacked
When breaches happen, hackers can use your data for identity theft

Ethical Questions About AI Data ⚖️

We need to think carefully about how AI uses our information.

Think About These:

Should a company be allowed to sell your data to advertisers?
Should AI systems know your exact location?
Should AI analyze your health data to predict diseases?
Who owns your data - you or the company?
Should parents let apps track their children?

Your Rights & The Law 📜

Many countries have laws protecting your data privacy.

Important Laws:

GDPR (Europe): Gives people control over their data
CCPA (California): Right to know what data is collected
COPPA (USA): Extra protection for children under 13
These laws let you: request your data, delete it, opt out of tracking

What We Learned 🎓

Apps collect massive amounts of data about you
Companies use your data to train AI and target ads
You can control app permissions on your phone
Review privacy settings regularly
Data breaches can expose your information
Laws like GDPR protect your privacy rights
You have power - know what you're sharing!