As we’ve long suspected, the internet has made privacy a thing of the past. Companies like Google and Facebook create profiles of everything from our shopping habits to our voting preferences.  After a series of high-profile privacy breaches, however, efforts are finally underway to reform the industry.

Ian Sherr, Editor at Large for CNET, is part of the BIG ARTS Talking Points series and will address internet privacy issues virtually on Thursday, February 11, at 4 p.m.  He will discuss what changes are being made in the industry, as well as ways we, as individuals, may be able to stay under the Big Brother radar.

“People may not know you when walking down the street, but the internet is watching your every move,” he said. “Tech companies are investing untold billions of dollars to learn what you buy, what sites you visit and who you interact with each day. And it’s all so that they can sell you another gadget, doodad or gizmo.”

Sherr has been writing about mobile devices, social networking, VR, Apple, Microsoft, games, and parenting for more than a decade. Previously, he wrote about Apple, the PC industry and video games at The Wall Street Journal. He’s also written for Reuters and the Agence France-Presse, among others. He’s a native of the San Francisco Bay Area.

You can live stream Talking Points with Ian Sherr and text your questions and comments during the talk. The program and remote login and participation instructions will be sent in advance.  For more information and to purchase tickets, call the box office at 239-395-0900

ABOUT BIG ARTS

BIG ARTS, established in 1979, is a nonprofit organization devoted to providing quality artistic, cultural and educational experiences to Sanibel and Captiva residents and visitors. Visit www.BIGARTS.org to learn more about our 2021 Season, and don’t forget to visit us on Facebook!

BIG ARTS is practicing the highest standards of safety during this challenging time. All visitors are required to wear masks throughout the facility. Please be sure to put on your mask before entering the building. We ask that you are mindful of physical distancing. With physical distancing precautions in mind, BIG ARTS is selling only 50% of the seats in Christensen Performance Hall. Therefore, until further notice, only 200 seats will be available for any event in the Hall.  A maximum of 25 people will be allowed in the gallery at any given time. BIG ARTS has enhanced its air filtration system, all surfaces are wiped down between use, a professional sanitation fogger is being used after each gathering, and there are hand sanitation “stations” throughout the ground floor.