I’ve worked online since about 2006 and the internet environment and the technology around it has obviously changed immensely in that time. Everything now tracks us, everything records us. Our choices and taste are marketed back to us in targeted ads and content. Our emotions are manipulated by advertisers (and content creators chasing $) in a way that feels deeply pervasive and constant.

Even devices that arguably don’t need internet access or innocuous phone apps seem to function as spies. There are eyeballs constantly on our digital movements. It’s kind of exhausting….

It’s not just marketers harvesting that data and using it against us. Governments are also accessing these treasure troves of info and putting our communities at risk. You may think “I have nothing to hide”- but think of the people connected to you. Do you have trans or queer folks in your circle? Immigrant friends? Do you know people who go to protests? Accessing your phone data and your connection to those people puts them at risk.

There are things you can do to mitigate the risk and lower access to your data. Disable face ID for unlocking your phone, disable notification previous (especially for Signal if you use it), check the privacy and access of every app you use on your phone (and check repeatedly as they do seem to change their settings without our permission). VPNS can cloak you further.

This panopticon themed shoot I did with N4ilpolish captures the uneasy feeling of encroaching surveillance, even in the shadows. She is wearing our “Placebo” dress.

I do understand the irony of writing about digital security while showing you photos of a dress you can buy on the damned internet. But hey, I got bills too.

-Tae