Dark Clouds on the Horizon

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Illustration by Stephanie Leone

The Convenience of Cloud Computing Comes at What Cost?

By the end of 2013, the cloud services market is expected to grow to $131 billion worldwide, for an increase of 18.5 percent from the previous year, according to a report by the information technology research firm Gartner. Yet many cloud services, like Google Drive, are provided to users for free, raising the question of how Internet companies are generating income from their growing infrastructure. Though the cloud invokes images of white, fluffy masses in the sky, there is a hidden gloom to the enhanced computing power that the cloud provides. The companies that we have entrusted with our personal information are taking advantage of us under the guise of increased accessibility.

Webmail, Facebook, Twitter, Google Drive, Flickr, Instagram, YouTube and Dropbox are all cloud services. Any online platform that stores data, such as photos, messages, documents and other user-information, is considered cloud computing. By storing data online, cloud service providers give users the opportunity to share content, collaborate and access synchronized services with any network-connected device. But the cloud is not only useful, it aggregates data and controls information in a way that decreases security and privacy. Instead of buying into the often convenient cloud services that have been popularized by Internet companies, we should be cautious of the amount of information that we freely give away — convenience comes with hidden costs.

In October, Google announced that it would begin posting names, photos, reviews and comments of users to endorse products in its search results. By utilizing the data that users provide on the web, Google is able to profit by tailoring searches and advertisements. This exemplifies how an individual’s data may be used by cloud-providing companies in ways that infringes on individual privacy. By hitting ‘I Agree’ to the Terms of Service, users give Google the right to manage their information for a profit.

In 2010, a study conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project found that technology experts believe people will mostly use cloud services by the year 2020, accessing information and applications online, like Adobe’s Creative Cloud or Google Docs, in-lieu of the programs located directly on computing devices.

As sharing and accessing information over the cloud increases, users will not need to house and curate data on their own digital devices. Data that was once under the control of the individual user will fall under the jurisdiction of other companies, decreasing privacy. Giving companies that profit from this exchange of data the ability to determine how personal information should be secured poses a risk.

In terms of larger security issues, recent publications by the Guardian and other newspapers regarding the data-collecting infrastructure of the U.S. National Security Agency have disclosed evidence of the government tapping into the servers of Google and Yahoo, collecting user-data at will. If companies that hold data on the cloud cannot adequately protect their user’s information from eavesdropping and hijacking, then withdrawing from sharing sensitive materials is a necessary measure to take. Ultimately, it is the user’s decision to give away control of their data, a choice that should not be as passive as clicking a button to agree with detrimental terms.

Another issue with the cloud is its longevity and cost. Companies like Dropbox, for example, offer their services for free, until a particular point. This is a baiting period. Dropbox provides 2GB of free file storage, adding slightly more space when the account is connected to social media platforms or is referred to by a friend. But by paying $9.99 a month or $99 a year, users can subscribe to 100GB of storage. The problem with these subscription structures is that they are ongoing. Rather than purchasing a hard drive for long-term storage, users must continually pay to access the cloud. Plus, if Dropbox decides the raise the prices of their services or removes unwanted items, the user is at the mercy of the company.

While cloud computing offers accessibility and synchronization across network-connected devices and enhanced processing power, there are also risks involved in storing formerly user-controlled data on private, corporatized servers. We must seriously consider if the benefits of the cloud outweigh the risks of diminished security, privacy, ongoing costs and longevity. Taking steps to limit dependence on cloud capabilities, by not sharing sensitive information and using protocols such as encryption to secure existing data, is, for now, all we can do.

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Editor-in-Chief | Alexandra hails from Virginia Beach, VA and is a senior in Culture and Media Studies at Lang, with a minor in Journalism. She is interested in both data journalism and innovations in new media. See what else Alexandra is up to on Twitter!

By Alexandra Ackerman

Editor-in-Chief | Alexandra hails from Virginia Beach, VA and is a senior in Culture and Media Studies at Lang, with a minor in Journalism. She is interested in both data journalism and innovations in new media. See what else Alexandra is up to on Twitter!

5 comments

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