TY - BOOK

T1 - The perception and fears of sharing personal digital data in digital public space

AU - Porter, Joel

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - This thesis provides a critical and practice based investigation of personal fears ofsharing personal digital data. In it, I explore the fears and growing tensions betweenthe requirements to share personal information while maintaining the need tocontrol and protect personal privacy. The emphasis of this study was to developresearch through a series of multi-disciplinary, practice-based projects alongsideexternal industry partners.I begin by exploring the rise in surveillance methods, from the Panopticon to the riseof social network sites and examine the consequences of sharing personalinformation online. Data sharing has been made easier through the proliferation ofinternet connected, mobile devices and wearable technologies that has led to agrowing reciprocal trade in personal information in return for online services. In aworld of ‘digital narcissism’ and perpetual life-logging brought about by the volumeof shared data, modern surveillance is an increasingly manifestation of consumeractivity. However, since the Snowden revelations in 2013 which revealed theNational Security Agency (NSA) was spying on US citizens, the consequence ofsharing personal information has led to a proliferation of leaks, thefts, and growinganxieties amongst the public, resulting in a greater awareness of privacy concernsand wariness about divulging personal information.My research focused upon those that obstruct, withhold information, and avoidcontributing to sharing personal data. Therefore, my research was designed toidentify the strategies available to designers working with shared data to combatfears of data surveillance and exploitation. The outcome of my research has shown,through a series of case studies, how individuals perceive the physical environmentand the proximity to their data, and how data will be shared.My research was part of the innovative Creative Exchange programme, one of fourDoctoral Training Centre knowledge exchange hubs funded by the Arts andHumanities Research Council. The aim was to develop research usingmultidisciplinary, practice based research projects alongside external industrypartners, utilising a variety of research methods and co-design approaches toinvestigate concepts around the emergent subject of digital public space.

AB - This thesis provides a critical and practice based investigation of personal fears ofsharing personal digital data. In it, I explore the fears and growing tensions betweenthe requirements to share personal information while maintaining the need tocontrol and protect personal privacy. The emphasis of this study was to developresearch through a series of multi-disciplinary, practice-based projects alongsideexternal industry partners.I begin by exploring the rise in surveillance methods, from the Panopticon to the riseof social network sites and examine the consequences of sharing personalinformation online. Data sharing has been made easier through the proliferation ofinternet connected, mobile devices and wearable technologies that has led to agrowing reciprocal trade in personal information in return for online services. In aworld of ‘digital narcissism’ and perpetual life-logging brought about by the volumeof shared data, modern surveillance is an increasingly manifestation of consumeractivity. However, since the Snowden revelations in 2013 which revealed theNational Security Agency (NSA) was spying on US citizens, the consequence ofsharing personal information has led to a proliferation of leaks, thefts, and growinganxieties amongst the public, resulting in a greater awareness of privacy concernsand wariness about divulging personal information.My research focused upon those that obstruct, withhold information, and avoidcontributing to sharing personal data. Therefore, my research was designed toidentify the strategies available to designers working with shared data to combatfears of data surveillance and exploitation. The outcome of my research has shown,through a series of case studies, how individuals perceive the physical environmentand the proximity to their data, and how data will be shared.My research was part of the innovative Creative Exchange programme, one of fourDoctoral Training Centre knowledge exchange hubs funded by the Arts andHumanities Research Council. The aim was to develop research usingmultidisciplinary, practice based research projects alongside external industrypartners, utilising a variety of research methods and co-design approaches toinvestigate concepts around the emergent subject of digital public space.

U2 - 10.17635/lancaster/thesis/291

DO - 10.17635/lancaster/thesis/291

M3 - Doctoral Thesis

PB - Lancaster University

ER -