It Is Almost Impossible to Delete An Item from The Internet.
Many people live their digital lives believing that they can delete messages, posts and personal data from any service they wish. This assumption was challenged by a tech hearing.
Peiter “Mudge”, the ex-security chief at Twitter, stated to a Senate committee that Twitter does not reliably delete data from users who cancel their accounts. This is in addition to bombshell claims he made last month in a whistleblower disclosure first published by CNN and The Washington Post.
In Zatko’s testimony and whistleblower disclosures, he claimed that Twitter doesn’t reliably delete user data. This could be because it has lost track. Twitter has defended itself broadly against Zatko’s claims, claiming that his disclosure paints an “alternative narrative” about the company. CNN asked Twitter questions. Twitter stated that it had workflows in place to “begin the deletion process”, but did not say if it usually completes it.
Although Zatko’s claims are amazing, Sandra Matz was reminded once again of how mindless we can be when sharing data online.
Matz, a professor at Columbia Business School and a social media researcher, said that although it sounds simple, you shouldn’t expect anything to be private. It is nearly impossible to retrace something you have downloaded from the internet by hitting the reset button.
There are now greater stakes in feeling in control of your data and confident that you can delete it.
After the Supreme Court’s June decision to repeal Roe v. Wade, it is now possible to use location data, search histories, and text messages to punish those who are looking online for information or access to abortion services.
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