Talk:Metadata Privacy

Alex Shoflick Peer Review

For the peer review assignment, I read Shruti Swaminathan’s page on “Metadata Privacy.” The post was around 1100 words long with good formatting and structure. The introduction of the post very clearly defines metadata as “data that describes other data.” I think Shruti did a great job of explaining how metadata can give data context. One point here is to maybe include some mention about how metadata is inextricably linked to the data it describes. The wiki has multiple sections with their own subsections. Looking at the references, Shruti has selected a slew of credible sources from scholarly articles to tech company definitions. The article clearly establishes itself as a resource explaining the varieties of forms of metadata. It lays out types of metadata, how they can be used, and what ethical concerns come along with metadata’s use. The article is clear and engaging as it points out the concerns of discriminating data based on its meta information. Concerns such as users being blocked out online engagement because they have the wrong metadata are well laid out. Additionally, the prospect of heavily personal surveillance from companies due to metadata is addressed. I think Shruti’s piece excellently explains and addresses the many aspects of metadata all while keeping an objective tone. My one comment is that the article sometimes operates at a level above what a layman could understand. If someone has little technology knowledge they may struggle to conceptualize what is being said. Perhaps a few more concrete examples of how metadata is collected, used, and can be problematic would serve to help these new readers.