Advancements in Tech Have Allowed Companies to Track us Even More

By Christian Maitre

In our neoliberal capitalist society we've been taught that advancement of technology is a completely good thing. New tech brings jobs, improves our quality of life and helps us become even more connected, right? Some of this maybe true, but what isn't at the forefront of everyone's minds is that advancement in tech allows our lives to be tracked even more. The beginning of the 21st century really defined how Americans have become aware that they've been tracked. Former president George Bush Jr. signed the Patriot Act , multiple social media scandals have surfaced prompting many more Americans to become aware that the government and private companies have access to our personal data. Even worse, this data can become compromised! It's been proved time and time again the big social media companies are vulnerable to data breaches. Multiple arguments have surfaced in prominent publications about these dangers of a constantly growing and unregulated big tech industry, but little changed has come about as a result.

Graphic from journalist Jacob Leon Kroger shows how our smartphones track us

As technology advances, companies find new ways to track our data and sell it other entities.

Do you use a fit-bit, Garmin or apple smartwatch that tracks your cardiovascular health, steps and location? Tech companies can sell that data to your health insurance company. One journalist for the Guardian found that her "points"

Taken from Pixabay

that she earned on her Garmin smartwatch through burning calories and running actually affected her life and health insurance premiums . Online learning, which has flourished throughout the pandemic, has resulted in students now getting targeted by surveillance software. A program called Gaggle utilized by teachers was used to track "harmful behavior" like suicidal or depressive tendencies in children and older students. Gaggle was found to have tracked students long after they had finished taking tests during times like weekends, late at night and holidays. Because technology has advanced so far, virtually no one with a smart device is safe.