The Hidden Web: Exploring the Ethical Implications of Investigating Shadow Profiles

Investigating Shadow Profiles: The Data of Others

The Rise of Shadow Profiles

Shadow profiles, unofficial profiles created by social networks without the user’s consent or knowledge, have become a pressing issue in today’s digital age. With the rampant collection and aggregation of personal data, individuals who are not even members of these networks can find themselves intruded upon, as their information is pieced together by the platform. The Center for Human | Data | Society at the University of Konstanz has taken up the task of understanding and addressing this complex problem, recognizing the limitations of individual solutions in protecting our privacy.

How Shadow Profiles Are Created

Shadow profiles are commonly formed through the sharing of address books with messenger services. Once contact data is collected, networks can establish connections and gradually piece together a profile based on messages, photos, group memberships, comments, and likes shared by the individual’s circle of friends. Importantly, this process is usually unintentional, with no malicious intent behind it. Even without explicitly mentioning an individual by name, the sum of these small bits of information can reveal one’s interests, political beliefs, ethnicity, place of residence, marital status, and even purchasing habits.

Types of Shadow Profiles

There are different types of shadow profiles that exist. A partial shadow profile is created when someone has an account with a social network but does not provide certain personal information, with the network filling in the gaps using data from the person’s contacts. A full shadow profile is constructed for individuals who have neither an account with the social network nor agreed to the platform’s terms and conditions. In this case, the network builds a profile based solely on information from the person’s contacts. Shadow profiles can also be formed when a person deletes their account, as the network can still partially recover the profile through indirect information provided by the individual’s contacts.

The Legality of Shadow Profiles

While one might instinctively believe shadow profiles should be illegal, there are legal loopholes that complicate the matter. In Germany, laws addressing the collection of data do not directly apply to shadow profiles, which leaves the issue largely unregulated. The publication of personal data, voluntarily shared by users on social networks, further complicates the legal landscape. While fines can be imposed on social networks for privacy violations, enforcement is rare due to the challenge of defining the harm associated with shadow profiles. Therefore, the regulation of shadow profiles remains an ongoing debate.

A Collective Responsibility

The computer scientist David Garcia argues that privacy is not solely an individual choice but a collective responsibility. While individual control over shared information can provide some level of protection, it is not sufficient to fully safeguard privacy. Garcia suggests preventing centralized data collection and implementing standards that deter shadow profiling and ensure transparency. To protect individuals from shadow profiles, Garcia also explores the concept of “information noise,” which involves feeding networks false data alongside real data to render shadow profiles useless.

A Multidisciplinary Approach

Addressing the issue of shadow profiles requires a multidisciplinary perspective that encompasses technical, legal, and cultural considerations. Garcia aims to identify the threshold at which networks possess too much data, resulting in highly accurate shadow profiles. However, he emphasizes that the solution cannot be achieved solely through technical or legal means. A holistic approach, involving law, computer science, and cultural studies, is necessary to shape our digital landscape thoughtfully and protect individual privacy. The Center for Human | Data | Society at the University of Konstanz is at the forefront of this multidisciplinary effort.

Shaping a Meaningful World of Data

Liane Wörner, the director of the Center for Human | Data | Society, believes that law should not only act as a regulator but also actively participate in shaping interpersonal relationships and the data-driven world we inhabit. This requires conscientious and wise navigation of digitalization and datafication, with collaboration between fields like law, computer science, and cultural studies. The center’s goal is to create comprehensive concepts for data sharing that contribute to a meaningful world of data. The discussion on what constitutes “good data” is an ongoing conversation that will shape the future of our digital existence.

In conclusion, shadow profiles pose a collective problem for society, one that is yet to be fully regulated. Individual solutions cannot provide comprehensive privacy protection. By embracing multidisciplinary perspectives and implementing standards that prevent shadow profiling, we can work towards creating a meaningful world of data that respects individual privacy and collective responsibility.