Lezione 22: Big Google Is Watching You, Notes for University Economics

LEZIONE 22 - BIG GOOGLE IS WATCHING YOU

This article explains the power of Google, which has acquired a Finnish company that provides social networking services via mobile phones. Nokia expert Jyri Engeström founded a startup called Jaiku, which allows mobile users to locate and communicate with contacts in their address book, as well as stream information and web feeds to the Jaiku site. According to some rumors, Google plans to build on its dominance of the Internet by expanding into the mobile phone market, either by launching its own phone or developing a proprietary operating system. At the moment, we can only escape from Google by turning off our computer, because it will know where we are whenever our mobile phone is switched on.

QUESTIONS:

1) What is the name of the company that Google has recently bought? The company Google recently bought is called Jaiku.

2) Jyri Engestrom started the company. Who did Mr. Engestrom work for before this? Before starting Jaiku, Jyri Engeström worked for Nokia.

3) What can you do with the new service? With Jaiku, mobile users can locate and communicate with contacts in their address book and stream information and web feeds to the Jaiku site.

4) Why has Google bought the company? Google may have bought Jaiku for several reasons:

• Jaiku's technology overlaps with Google's existing products (like Maps, Reader, Blogger, Calendar), so it could be a complementary addition to Google's portfolio.
• Google might also be interested in the talent behind Jaiku, especially Jyri Engeström, who is seen as a key figure in the social networking revolution.
• It could also be part of Google's larger strategy for world domination.

5) According to the article, what will Google be able to do in the near future? According to the article, Google will soon be able to know where you are whenever your mobile phone is switched on, as it continues to expand into the mobile phone space.

ISSUES AND THEMES:

1. How do privacy and data protection relate to Google? Security and privacy are two of the most common topics asked about Google in general and, more specifically, Google Cloud. Google treats both topics seriously and provides tools that allow you to control how user data is processed. In the tools at our disposal, we can set the privacy and cookie conditions. Despite this, to visit some sites it is necessary to accept cookies, at least the strictly necessary ones and this allows our personal data to be conveyed on the web.

2. What do you know about data protection laws in your country? The Regulation focuses on various issues, such as the need to obtain explicit consent from the data subject for the processing of personal data, and to ensure simpler access to this data. It also emphasizes the right to rectification of personal data, the right to object to the use of such data, and the right to data portability from one service provider to another. Additionally, it highlights the no less important right to erasure.

3. Do you feel you are loosing your privacy in today's digital age? Yes, I think that the weak point of the digital age is precisely this. If I do a search on a certain topic or on the purchase of a given product, then I find that product in the various banners of other sites (for example, Facebook or Instagram).

4. Is it good for large companies like Google to buy smaller ones? Pros:

• Access to innovation and talent.- Expansion of services offered.
• Competitive advantage.

Cons:

• Risk of reducing competition (monopoly).
• Potential cultural clashes and loss of creativity.
• Layoffs or restructuring in smaller companies.

5. What might happen if Google is hacked or loses its data? - Privacy breach and risk of identity theft. - Reputation damage for Google. - Loss of user trust.

6. Do you like the idea that Google will be able to find you when you turn on your mobile phone? Pros:

• Convenience with personalized services.
• Safety features in emergencies.
• More relevant suggestions like local info.

Cons:

• Constant tracking.
• Unauthorized access.
• Dependence on technology and potential loss of personal freedom.

HISTORY OF MCDONALD'S

McDonald's was founded in 1940 by brothers Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California. In 1948, they introduced the "Speedee Service System," which revolutionized fast food by emphasizing speed and efficiency. The original mascot was "Speedee," a chef with a hamburger-shaped head, replaced by Ronald McDonald in 1963. The company grew internationally, with its first restaurants opening in various countries, including Canada, Japan, and France. The modern corporation traces its origins to 1955 when Ray Kroc opened a McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois. Kroc later bought out the McDonald brothers, expanded the business worldwide, and took it public in 1965. The brothers and Kroc had conflicts over control of the company, which were documented in their autobiographies. McDonald's has become a symbol of globalization but has also faced criticism on issues like obesity and corporate ethics. In recent years, the company has focused on sustainability efforts. For example, in 2008, McDonald's in Sheffield started a biomass trial to cut waste and reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, in Europe, the company recycles vegetable grease into fuel for delivery trucks and uses corn-based bioplastics for packaging. They have also worked to improve energy efficiency and reduce packaging waste, saving millions of pounds annually.

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU

In 1984, George Orwell tells the story of Winston Smith, a man living in a totalitarian dystopia where the Party regime controls every aspect of daily life. Society is dominated by the figure of Big Brother, the omnipresent leader who represents absolute control. His image is everywhere: on posters, coins, and on every corner of the city. The famous phrase "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU" symbolizes the constant surveillance that every citizen is under.The Party is the only power that matters, exercising total control not only over politics and the economy but also over the minds of its citizens. Information is manipulated through the Ministry of Truth, where Winston works. There, he rewrites history to align with the official version, erasing any trace of the past that could threaten the Party's power. In this society, freedom of thought is forbidden. People are forced to think and behave in ways that conform to what the Party imposes. The Party's ideology is "doublethink", the ability to hold two contradictory ideas in the mind at the same time and accept both as true. Language itself is manipulated to prevent freedom of thought: "Newspeak" is a language designed to reduce vocabulary and eliminate subversive concepts. Thus, individual freedom is eliminated and replaced by total obedience to the authoritarian figure of Big Brother. The novel explores themes of surveillance, mind control, totalitarianism, and the loss of individuality. Winston, who initially tries to rebel, eventually succumbs to the power of the Party, demonstrating how oppressive a regime can be when it exercises total control.

1st part

It was a bright, cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, trying to shield himself from the biting wind, quickly slipped through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, but not quickly enough to stop a gust of gritty dust from blowing in with him. The hallway smelled of boiled cabbage and old ragged mats. On one wall, there was a large, colorful poster that was too big to be displayed indoors. It showed a giant face, over a meter wide: the face of a man around forty-five years old, with a thick black mustache and ruggedly handsome features. Winston made his way to the stairs. The elevator was out of order, as usual, and at the moment, the electricity was turned off during the day as part of cost-saving measures in preparation for Hate Week. His apartment was on the seventh floor, and Winston, who was thirty-nine and had a varicose ulcer on his right ankle, climbed slowly, taking several breaks along the way. On every landing, opposite the elevator shaft, the poster with the giant face stared down at him from the wall. It was one of those pictures designed so that the eyes seemed to follow you wherever you moved. The caption underneath read: "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU." Inside his apartment, a deep, smooth voice was reading out a list of figures related to the production of pig iron.

2nd part

The voice came from a rectangular metal plate on the right-hand wall, which looked like a dull mirror. Winston flipped a switch, and the voice lowered in volume, but he could still make out the words. The device, called a telescreen, could be dimmed, but it could never be turned off completely. Behind Winston, the telescreen continued to babble on about pig iron. The telescreen both received and transmitted at the same time. Any noise Winston made above a very quiet whisper would be picked up by it. As long as he stayed within the area the metal plate could see, he could be both heard and seen. There was no way to know for sure if you were being watched at any given moment. It was possible that they watched everyone all the time. At any rate, they could listen in on you whenever they wanted. You had to live - and did live, instinctively - assuming that every sound you made was being overheard, and that, unless you were in the dark, every movement was being watched. Winston kept his back to the telescreen. It was safer that way, although he knew well that even his back could give him away. A kilometer away, the Ministry of Truth, where he worked, loomed large and white over the dirty cityscape.

LEZIONE 43 - I HAVE A DREAM

Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech was delivered on August 28, 1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. In this powerful address, King spoke of his vision for a racially integrated, just, and equal America, where people would be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. King began by referencing the U.S. Declaration of Independence, emphasizing that the promise of freedom and equality had not been fully realized for African Americans. He called for an end to racism, segregation, and discrimination, urging the nation to live up to its ideals of liberty and justice for all. A central theme of the speech is King's dream of a future where racial equality prevails. He famously described his dream that one day, children of all races would be able to join hands in peace, that people of different races would live together harmoniously, and that African Americans would be free from oppression. King also emphasized the importance of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience in achieving these goals. He called for peaceful marches, demonstrations, and actions to bring about change and urged his audience to maintain hope and perseverance despite the challenges they faced. In conclusion, King reaffirmed his faith that justice would eventually prevail, and that freedom, equality, and brotherhood would triumph in America.

QUESTIONS:

1. What is freedom? Freedom is the ability to live without oppression, to make choices, and to express oneself without fear of punishment or discrimination. It includes the right to speak, to think, to move, and to live in a way that reflects one's own values and beliefs, within the boundaries of respecting others' rights. Example: In Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech, freedom was described as the right for African Americans to live free from racial segregation, discrimination, and violence. For instance, King dreamed of a world where his children would "not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character," meaning freedom from racial prejudice.

2. What is dignity? Dignity is the inherent worth and respect that every individual deserves simply because they are human. It is the recognition that all people should be treated with honor and given the respect that comes with being a member of the human family, regardless of race, gender, or background. Example: In the fight for civil rights, dignity was about ensuring that African Americans were treated with respect and equality in every aspect of life, from voting rights to access to public facilities. King's speech called for dignity for all people, envisioning a society where people were not dehumanized by segregation or oppression.

3. What is justice? Justice is the fair treatment of all people, where laws, policies, and actions ensure that everyone is treated equally, regardless of their race, gender, or social status. It is about protecting rights, enforcing fairness, and correcting wrongs so that everyone has the same opportunities and protections under the law. Example: In his speech, King called for justice by demanding that the U.S. government live up to its promises of freedom and equality for all its citizens, particularly African Americans who had