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It's Getting Harder To Reside Anonymously In a Modern City (citiesofthefuture.eu)

Posted by Soulskill on from the aren't-you-the-one-from-that-place? dept.

dkatana writes: In a panel on 'Privacy in the Smart City' during this month's Smart City World Congress, Dr. Carmela Troncoso, a researcher from Spain, argued that data anonymization itself is almost impossible without using advanced cryptography. Our every transaction leaves a digital marker that can be mined by anyone with the right tools or enough determination.

Most modern cities today are full of sensors and connected devices. Some are considering giving away free WiFi in exchange of personal data. LinkNYC, which was present at the congress as exhibitor, is one such example of this. The panelists insisted that it is the duty of world leaders to safeguard their citizens' privacy, just as corporations are answerable to leaks and hacks.

3 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. IMHO that's good by argStyopa · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Personally, I think the anonymity of people in massive cities is the source of many of the problems of city life.

    A lot of urbanites poo-pooh the closed-minded clannishness of small town life, but part of the VALUE of this life (I live in a MN town of 1500) is that people know each other. They know each others' families, they know their histories.

    If you're an asshole, people know it and will remember it. So you make SURE you don't act like an asshole. Cities? You'll likely never see that person again, so who gives a shit?

    --
    -Styopa
    1. Re:IMHO that's good by dablow · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Anonymity is what enabled the modern world.

      It was because the anonymity cities provided people where able to question religious dogma, dared to question the authority of king and queens etc.....

      Yes, having anonymity also leads to people being douche bags to each other, that is the price to pay for a technological civilization.

      BTW last I checked, small towns also had a lot of the same issues as big cities. Murder, drug use, spousal abuse, etc happen there too. And although I have not looked into the numbers, probably in the same proportions as major cities. So like if there is 3 murders per 100,000 in a mjor urban area, that means if you divide up the population into 66 towns of 1500 people, only 3 of them will experience a murder. Which leads to the perception that it "never happens".

    2. Re:IMHO that's good by JackieBrown · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Small towns are full of bigots, pedophiles, racists and thieves and everyone is too afraid

      Ahh. Just like large cities, then? Except in a small town, you can learn who to avoid.