In the fast changing modern-day technology world, it has become a common practice to digitize information and processes. Looking at a world where everything is driven to the digital side — personal data, entire industries — seems like a ride that will never be stalled, giving us the convenience and capability for productivity that was never thought possible. But while we ride the wave of this digital revolution, we must also acknowledge the inherent dangers of digitizing everything. Information Exploitation and Security Threats in a Fully-Digital World.
1. Cybersecurity Threats: The Invisible Enemy
One of the most ominous threats of digitalization is the increased risk of cybersecurity attacks. As an increasing amount of data is stored and transmitted digitally, the potential for hacking exponentially also grows. The world is always in flux, creating new attack vectors for hackers and cybercriminals who are always on the lookout to exploit weaknesses in digital systems in order to steal sensitive data, to sabotage services, or to cause massive collateral damage.
For example, the 2017 Equifax data breach compromised the personal information of 147 million people, including Social Security numbers, birth dates and addresses. The implications of weak cybersecurity investments into a digitized future had now been laid bare by this incident.
Analogy: Cybersecurity is the locks and alarms on your house. The more valuable things (data) you put inside, the more burglars (hackers) get attracted to your house. It seems like without strong security features, your digital home would almost always be at risk of being burglarized.
2. Privacy Concerns: The Erosion of Personal Boundaries
Digitization of personal data is directly linked with privacy risks. Instead, each online transaction, social media update and digital engagement leaves behind a trail of data that can be captured, analyzed and used — or abused. Corporate and governmental aggregation of this data can facilitate invasive surveillance, three-dimensional tracking, anonymity loss, and manipulation.
For example, the Cambridge Analytica scandal exposed the unauthorized acquisition of millions of fifty million Facebook users’ personal data, which was subsequently exploited to target political advertisements and campaigns. This event highlighted the possibilities available with digital data that could be used for things outside of the user’s control.
A good analogy would be you leaving breadcrumbs behind you. In an entirely digitized world, all of these breadcrumbs can be collected and used to follow you everywhere, sometimes without your knowledge or consent, to produce a timeline map of the life you share with companies.
3. Digital Divide: The Inequality Gap
Although digitization brings many advantages, it also deepens the digital divide, or the gap between people with the access to digital technologies and those without. What this can look like is a digital divide that creates huge social and economic disparities between those with digital access and those without, as we move into a highly digital future.
For instance, remote learning became the standard during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, students from poor households who didn’t have reliable internet or computers at home struggled to keep up, widening the educational divide.
Analyzing: Taking the digital divide as a bridge. For people with access to digital technologies, this chasm—between the opportunities that a ‘digital Finland’ holds for everyone vs. the large, entrenched socio-economic divide faced by those lack access to the connectivity that brings those opportunities—is easily crossed.
4. Data Dependency: The Fragility of Fully Digital Systems
Our increased dependence on digital systems also means our systems become cascading vehicles for systemic failure. Technical glitches, software failures and system outages can disrupt essential services, resulting in huge economic and social fallout. The destruction of digital records due to hardware malfunction or cyberattacks can also be catastrophic.
For instance, in 2018 a software bug within a petrochemical company’s system resulted in the cancelation of hundreds of flights and thousands of stranded passengers from a large airline.
Analogy: Like building a house of cards. Each data card represents a digital system or piece of data. With each new card that is added, the shape grows more impressive but also more delicate. One disruption can bring the whole house crashing down.
5. Loss of Human Touch: The Dehumanization of Interactions
This digitisation of interactions leads to the loss of the human touch with the face-to-face communication replaced by a digital interfaces. Such a turn can affect social connectivity, mental health and general well-being. Although digital communication provides convenience, it is often missing the emotional depth and nuance of being in person.
For instance, telemedicine surged during the pandemic, delivering crucial health services remotely. But patients and doctors complained of a lack of personal connection and empathy relative to in-person visits.
Analogy: Visualization of Digital communication is like a picture of a lovely landscape. Although it gives a good idea of what it was about, you cannot explain the sounds, smells and emotions of actually being there in person.
6. Environmental Impact: The Hidden Cost
The digitization of everything comes with an environmental cost, too. Digital devices produce e-waste (electronic waste) and environmental degradation during their production, use and disposal. Moreover, the power used by data centers and other digital infrastructure also adds carbon emissions and accelerates climate change.
For example: The United Nations found that the world produced 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste in 2019, and only 17.4% was recycled. This increasing e-waste challenge is a serious environmental and health threat.
Analogy: Look at the digital world as a garden. It may be beautiful and productive, but it takes resources and maintenance. If left unchecked, it can become invasive and destructive to the ecosystem.
Conclusion: Striking a Balance
The benefits that the digitization of everything brings us are manifold, but we must also be aware of and defend against its dangers. A choice that, by establishing strong cybersecurity, ensuring privacy, narrowing the digital gap, sustaining system resilience, maintaining human touch and reducing the footprint on the environment, contribute to a sustainable and humane digital future.
So step back from this digital revolution and keep your eyes wide open. In conclusion, by recognizing the threats and implementing proven solutions, we can keep the advantages of digitization while also protecting our security, privacy and welfare.
