May 14, 2019

Knowledge Project: Popping the Filter Bubble

1 hour 35 minutes

Podcast Notes Key Takeaways

As you browse the web, there are hidden trackers on every page you visit
- For example – If you were to go to the New York Times website, there are about 30 other companies “sitting” on the page for a variety of purposes, like:
  - Analytics
  - Advertising
  - To help run the site
- (Google is on ~80% of the top million websites while Facebook is on ~25% of them)
Why does this matter?
- Those companies can use your data for whatever they want (they tend to aggregate it into a profile of you which they can sell)
What are the consequences?
- More effective advertising towards you online
- Things like your Google search results, your Facebook news feed, and even Netflix will show you more things you’re likely to click on
“I think the government NEEDS to play a role here. If the data can be collected and used to make profits, it’s going to be used for exactly that unless the government stops it.”
How does DuckDuckGo make money?
- Contextual advertising (rather than behavioral advertising)
  - This is advertising shown based on the content of the webpage (not based on your online history)
What can people do to reduce their digital footprint and increase privacy online?
- Use DuckDuckGo
- Check out the device tips at spreadprivacy.com
  - For every one of your devices, there’s a few settings you should change which will increase your privacy
- For all the services you use, like Gmail, there are generally more private alternatives
  - Like ProtonMail or FastMail
  - (You want to separate your data as best you can, and not use the same company – Google – for both email and search)

Read the full notes @ podcastnotes.org

DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg talks data privacy, protecting yourself online and shares his favorite mental models for clearer thinking.

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For comprehensive show notes on this episode, including a full edited transcript, go to https://fs.blog/podcast/

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May 14, 2019

Knowledge Project: Popping the Filter Bubble

1 hour 35 minutes

Podcast Notes Key Takeaways

As you browse the web, there are hidden trackers on every page you visit
- For example – If you were to go to the New York Times website, there are about 30 other companies “sitting” on the page for a variety of purposes, like:
  - Analytics
  - Advertising
  - To help run the site
- (Google is on ~80% of the top million websites while Facebook is on ~25% of them)
Why does this matter?
- Those companies can use your data for whatever they want (they tend to aggregate it into a profile of you which they can sell)
What are the consequences?
- More effective advertising towards you online
- Things like your Google search results, your Facebook news feed, and even Netflix will show you more things you’re likely to click on
“I think the government NEEDS to play a role here. If the data can be collected and used to make profits, it’s going to be used for exactly that unless the government stops it.”
How does DuckDuckGo make money?
- Contextual advertising (rather than behavioral advertising)
  - This is advertising shown based on the content of the webpage (not based on your online history)
What can people do to reduce their digital footprint and increase privacy online?
- Use DuckDuckGo
- Check out the device tips at spreadprivacy.com
  - For every one of your devices, there’s a few settings you should change which will increase your privacy
- For all the services you use, like Gmail, there are generally more private alternatives
  - Like ProtonMail or FastMail
  - (You want to separate your data as best you can, and not use the same company – Google – for both email and search)