The impact of th[e] data revolution will be to strip citizens
of much of their control over their personal information in virtual space, and
that will have significant consequences in the physical world.
In the future, our identities in everyday life will come
to be defined more and more by our virtual activities and associations.
...
The potential for
someone else to access, share or manipulate part of our online identities will
increase, particularly due to our reliance on cloud-based data storage
(….Storing documents or content “in the cloud” means that data is stored on
remote servers rather than on local ones or on a person’s own computer, and it
can be accessed by multiple networks and users….)....your online identity in the future is unlikely to be a
simple Facebook page; instead it will be a constellation of profiles, from
every online activity, that will be verified and perhaps even regulated by
government.
The true cost of
remaining anonymous, then, might be irrelevance; even the most fascinating
content, if tied to an anonymous profile, simply won’t be seen because of its
excessively low ranking. (p. 33)
…a proliferation of businesses that cater to privacy and
reputation concerns. This industry
exists already, with companies like Reputation.com using a range of proactive
and reactive tactics to remove or dilute unwanted content from the
Internet. A new realm of insurance will
emerge, too….to insure your online identity.
(p.38)
Online identity will become such a powerful currency that we
will even see the rise of a new black market where people can buy real or
invented identities. (p. 39)
Source:
Schmidt, Eric & Cohen, Jared. (2013). The New
Digital Age—Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business. (Alfred A. Knopf, NY).
