Kursthemen
Allgemeines
Security, privacy and data protection
The digital world offers enormous advantages and conveniences. But we also encounter risks on the internet. These are manifold and also vary in their level of danger. Ultimately, however, they always represent an attack on our privacy and our data. The dangers range from the unwanted disclosure of our data to deletion and destruction.
It is important to know the threats and their implications. Because if we understand the underlying mechanisms, most risks are avoidable or we can at least minimise them through appropriate behaviour.
Materials for this modul
- Handbook (pdf)
- Curriculum (pdf)
- Learning material (Wiki)
This module is divided into the following sub-chapters:
- Digital identity
- Challenges of the digital world
- My data, my rights
Digital identity
Our identity is unmistakable. In real life, we can prove our identity by means of our fingerprint or our identity card. Nowadays, however, everyone also has a digital identity, which enables us to identify ourselves on the internet. This can be done, for example, via a digital signature, an e-mail account or a social media account. And even those who always try not to leave any traces on the internet will not be able to prevent personal information about themselves from ending up on the net in a roundabout way.
In this chapter, we want to explore the questions to what extent we can identify people in the digital world? How do digital identities arise from the personal information we leave behind on the internet (whether consciously or unconsciously)? What risks are associated with them and what value do they have?
Challenges of the digital world
We also encounter risks on the internet. These are manifold and can also be assessed differently in terms of their danger level. Ultimately, however, they always represent an attack on our privacy and our data. The dangers range from the unwanted disclosure of our data to deletion and destruction.
It is important to know the threats and their implications. Because if we understand the underlying mechanisms, most risks are avoidable or we can at least minimise them through appropriate behaviour.
My data, my rights
There is no doubt that our personal data belongs to us first. And we have the right to determine how this data is used and published. But does all my data really belong to me personally? We always assume that all information about me belongs to me. But is that true? What about my phone number or my email address? Are these really my property or do they remain in the possession of the provider who only provides me with these identifiers and only grants me the right to use them? The problem: According to current law, ownership can only exist in physical objects; unfortunately, data does not count as intellectual property.
On the other hand, data is a valuable asset. The business models of many large internet companies are based on offers that are financed by the users' data. Thus, the question of a possible "ownership of data" is quite justified. Who owns our data and who is allowed to use it?
In the case of personal data that can be clearly assigned to a person, the answer may still be quite simple: These data may only be processed on a legal basis. At the very least, we have a right to know which provider has stored which of our information and what it is used for. This right was enshrined in the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).