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But technology can also work in the opposite direction, helping the spooks learn about our private lives and behavior, which makes it difficult for individuals to develop personalities freely from fear and control.
But which technologies should we be afraid about most, and why? And what can help us protect ourselves from these trends?
1. Facial recognition systems
There are already cameras everywhere, and while it’s undeniably entertaining to watch bloopers from everyday life on youtube, it is creepy to know everything we do in public life is potentially made available to the world to consume.
With advanced technology, it will soon be possible to not only record all our public life but also analyze it in almost real time. While facial recognition is far from perfect, it already allows a computer to match a person even if glasses or hats obscure parts of their face.
Quite likely, facial recognition software will become more accurate than humans—especially when scaled to databases the size of a city’s voters registry, national passports, or even that of Facebook.
With advanced face recognition software, a state might be able to find out with high accuracy where a person is at all times, who they are with, and what they are currently doing.
It’s pretty hard to protect against facial recognition. The most effective tools stand out considerably to the human eye, and they only really work if a large number of people use them. If only a few people use tricks to deceive cameras, it will be quite easy to work out who they are.
For now, items that fool the cameras are mainly a sign of (much needed) protest and objection to the automatization of the police state.
2. Ride-sharing apps
Your car is your property, and there are limits to what governments can do with it. They cannot deny you access to it, seize it, or search it without good reason.
In your car, you also decide where to go, and what hardware and software to install.
However, when you rent a car or hop into somebody’s rideshare, you are not protected by these same provisions. On top of that, the app you use to hail the ride knows where you are at all times and will record this data.
The app even knows where you are going before you get there and, in some cases, can even predict your commuting behavior (this risk is also endemic to navigation systems). All of this data is available to advertisers and governments.
At present, it’s still relatively easy to avoid ride-sharing if your hometown has decent public transportation or you can afford a car.
3. Electronic money
Carrying change in our pockets is inconvenient. Finding an ATM nearby can cost money and take time. Most of us have access to electronic payment methods like credit cards, Google Pay, Wechat Pay or Venmo.
But relying on these systems can be dangerous. Not only are all your transactions analyzed and sold to advertisers, but they are also available to your government. Tourists crossing the U.S. border from the north can be refused entry, and possibly even face jail time, because they purchased marijuana legally in Canada.
Electronic money can not only be used to surveil and prosecute you, but also to deny you access to services only available with credit cards, such as online purchases or card-only shops.
If we do end up eradicating cash, as we already have for expensive goods, we are making it easy to marginalize people without access further.
To avoid government snooping, use cash as much as you can, and Bitcoin whenever you shop online.
4. Predictive policing
Predictive policing has inspired many science fiction stories, most famously Philip K Dick’s The Minority Report.
Unlike in The Minority Report, we cannot rely on psychic mutants to see future crime, but instead, we have to rely on existing crime databases, most of which carry a fair amount of prejudice and bias.
Predictive policing amplifies this bias, meaning some crime goes less punished, while citizens in crime-ridden areas are inconvenienced through concentrated law enforcement action, similar to that of racial profiling at airports.
It may seem far-fetched, but predictive policing is already in trial stage at multiple locations around the world—most notably through U.S. military contractor Palantir in New Orleans.
All of the above is why we should all demand ethical technology
It is the responsibility of all of us to use and further ethical technology while rejecting technology that can be used against us.
Wear face covers where you can, even if it is just as a protest. Make use of your own car or even better, public transportation, and pay with cash and Bitcoin wherever possible.
Be vigilant against attempts in your community against any policies that endanger the equality of all and the erosion of your rights.
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On social media, it is easy to forget who can see our posts. A pseudonym can protect us from revealing too much, but there are still plenty of ways we can accidentally dox ourselves.
1. There’s lots of metadata in images
Many cameras and smartphones
collect metadata along with the picture. This data might include the
time you took the photo, information about your camera, and highly
sensitive information such as GPS coordinates or usernames.
Some social media sites will remove this metadata from the image before making it publicly available, but they will still collect and store the information for themselves. Other sites will not remove your metadata at all.
It’s best always to remove metadata yourself to prevent unwanted followers to show up at your doorstep.
Some metadata is pretty hard to remove. A picture of you in front of the Eiffel Tower will always reveal that you are currently in Paris, for example. So maybe it’s best to wait until you are back home to post it so as not give potential robbers any ideas.
Look carefully at pictures before you post them. Maybe a street sign or passing public bus reveals your location?
2. QR Codes are embedded with lots of information
We know it’s
tempting to show your followers that you are on your way to a vacation,
or just saw a cool new blockbuster, but this is not without risk. Be
careful of everything that has a QR code in it, such as movie tickets or
flight tickets. The QR code might include your loyalty card number or
even your name.
With this information, a criminal, personal enemy, or even just a prankster might be able to successfully change your flight, get themselves movie tickets on your expense, or empty your loyalty card.
3. Your language and writing style is a dead giveaway
Blogging
anonymously is hard. You will have to change your language and style and
avoid slang carefully. Everybody has some words they use far more than
others, and the science of stylometry helps people find out who wrote
what.
The more casual the writing style, the easier it is to find out who is the author of an anonymous piece, such as a song.
It is possible to use computers to automatically analyze essays, work emails, or blog posts and correlate them with the style of the social media account.
Your IP address will betray you
Every site you visit can see your
IP address. Somebody who wants to find out your IP address and
approximate location needs only to trick you into visiting a site they
own, for example by commenting on your recent social media post, and
then routing the request.
It’s straightforward to reroute traffic unnoticeably, for example by using a link shortener service. A shortened link can direct to a third-party before forwarding on to the site you expect to see, and there is no visible trace your information was caught in the middle.
In some countries, such as the United States, it’s even easier to get internet usage data. ISPs will happily sell your information to anyone who asks, so any site you have visited can cheaply find out our name and address.
Think twice before you post anything
You already know you have to
be careful with what you post on your social media accounts. But be
especially careful with metadata, information in the background of
pictures and videos, and QR and barcodes.
When comes to the issue of online privacy and security, we suggest to use a VPN,
and our recommendation is RitaVPN. RitaVPN is an excellent choice for
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connections on all servers and offers specialized servers for
Netflix and other favorite streaming channels. RitaVPN is a relatively
new VPN service, but it’s already making a name for itself，which makes
it one of the best VPN in 2019.
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The successful launch event was attended by more than 200 people, including many distinguished guests from politics, education and business and it attracted great interest from the media and parents alike.
RDFZ King’s College School Hangzhou will be operated by Dipont Education, a high quality Chinese education provider, and in its unique concept brings together two of the world’s leading schools, The High School Affiliated to Renmin University Of China also known as Ren Da Fu Zhong (RDFZ) and King’s College School, Wimbledon. Mr Zhang, CEO of Dipont, said he was very proud to work with two such outstanding partners.
Mr Bruce Thompson, Founding Headmaster, stated his determination to draw on the best of Chinese and Western educational practice to provide the highest level of academic and co-curricular attainment and experience for each individual member of the new school’s community.
Mr Karl Gross, Director of Overseas Schools at King’s, highlighted in his speech that King’s is an outward looking school, which seeks to engage with the wider world. Talking about the educational philosophy of King’s, he said: “Our aim is for our students to develop into rounded and balanced citizens who can, and who want to make a difference to the world, shaping its future for the better.”
Following the launch, a TV station coverning the whole of Zhejiang Province produced a 30 minute programme on RDFZ King’s College School Hangzhou which attracted great parental interest.The school’s innovative model will cater for local Chinese and international students aged 3-18 and it will open its doors to students in September 2018.
Tianjin is also Tianjing’s proving ground for China’s first Eco-City, a blueprint for the country’s future urbanization. Slated for completion by 2020, Tianjin Eco-City’s pedestrian-friendly layout will house 350,000 residents in water and energy efficient buildings, served by carbon-smart transport systems. More prosaically, Tianjin was the 2012 meeting place of the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions, underscoring its growing international importance. The city is also vying for a leadership role in cloud computing; its Binhai New Area is establishing a cloud-computing park, backed by its resident supercomputer: the Tianhe A1 (formerly the world’s fastest supercomputer).
Putting business aside, this city is famed for its passion for snacking. Tianjin is a city of foodies at heart and it would be remiss of you not to sample some of China’s favorite munchies during your stay here. Try the sumptuous Goubuli Baozi (steamed bun, with a filling), Maobuwen Jiaozi (tasty steamed dumplings), and Erduoyan (mouth-watering fried rice cakes). To sample Tianjin’s full complement of appetizers, head for its widely famed Nanshi Food Street.
Dining out locally is a real treat in Tianjin. If you are in the mood for a banquet, it is worth seeking out the city’s long, covered alleyway of Shipin Jie ("Food Street"), which boasts more than 50 different restaurants jostling for business. Here you’ll find anything from soup to snake on the menu. The less adventurous should make for Fukang Lu, where you’ll find TGI Friday's and other western chains offering the usual burgers, steaks, pasta, chicken and seafood.
The thriving foreign community in Tianjin is in part made up by the overspill from neighboring Tianjing. The city’s carapace of European architecture juxtaposed with bold modern glass Chinese monoliths is indicative of its residents: Chinese and foreigners rubbing shoulders, comfortably co-existing in very separate worlds.
What is special or unique about your city?
Tianjin is one of the four municipalities in China. It is only 27 minutes from Tianjin to Tianjing by train, so Tianjin is regarded as the backyard garden of Tianjing. In recent years, Tianjin has received increased attention from both tourists at home and abroad because of its centuries-old history and ascendant location. In addition, the established and growing Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Area (TEDA) boosts the city and makes it even more amazing.
What are a newcomer's first impressions of your city?
Tianjin is an ancient city of rich history and culture mixed with modern, as well as a lot of ongoing development. Some of the more traditional culture in Tianjin is very distinctive and interesting, such as "Tianjin Xiangsheng" performances.
The International School of Tianjin offers various services for the safety and well-being of students. These include a 24-hour guard and security service, a fleet of buses offering transportation services for students and staff, a fully operational school clinic staffed by a full-time nurse and a school cafeteria service operated by one of the premier international catering companies called Chartwells. Please click on the links above for a more detailed explanation of each of these services.
IST has a 24-hour guard and security company contracted to secure the school premises and maintain a vigil on people entering the school campus and grounds. The guards are well-trained and monitor the security and safety of the campus round the clock.
In order to ensure that your children are safe and accounted for at all times, IST does not allow students to leave the campus during school hours unless accompanied by a teacher, as well as having obtained a signed parental permission slip. Students will only be allowed to leave the school with parents or the student's registered driver if a letter of authorization is received from the student's parents, and permission is granted by the director or relevant principal.
IST also keeps daily records of student absences in order to more closely monitor attendance patterns and in an effort to determine if a student is, in fact, absent. Should a student be absent when the class attendance register is taken, the school office will telephone the student's parents in an effort to determine the reason for the failure to arrive.
IST has a fully operational school clinic staffed by 2 qualified nurses, one full-time and one part-time. In addition, the school has established an emergency access scheme with the Tianjin United Family Hospital (TJUFH) Under this scheme, students are provided access to the hospital for initial treatment in emergency medical situations that occur during school hours and/or at school events. The school covers the cost of this initial treatment only. Parents are responsible for the cost of all medication and for all treatment beyond the initial consultation with the doctor. Parents are therefore strongly advised to arrange medical insurance for their children.
Please note that responsibility for the decision to send a sick or injured student to TJUFH lies with the school nurse, whose priority is always the welfare of the individual student. While access to initial treatment is at the school's expense such coverage does not apply before or after school hours or on any day following an accident or injury.
If a student becomes too ill to participate in school lessons or activities, the school nurse will telephone the parents to pick the child up from school. Please do not send your child to school if he/she is sick, as your child's recovery will be slower, and other children and adults will be exposed. Students who are sent home sick will be re-admitted to school only after they have been checked by the school nurse.
TIS have been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) since 1992. Registered with the Tianjin Education Bureau and is also accredited in China through the National Center for School Curriculum and Textbook Development (NCCT). These two accrediting bodies attest to the high standard that the school have achieved and continue to maintain. The school is also members of EARCOS, ACAMIS and ISAC. These memberships provide them with interschool competition in sports, music, art and science.
Inception Story
Over 30 years ago, a small group of Americans decided to begin a school for their children. Shortly thereafter, they were asked if the children of expatriate businessmen could join, and so began Tianjin International School, the 2nd oldest international school in China. Throughout thirty rich years of history, TIS has grown to be a pillar of excellence in international education in Tianjin. The American and Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum has an international flavor making it an attractive option for both westerners and Asians alike. From three-year old to twelfth graders, the school aligns its education to their values of Truth, Integrity, Service, and Excellence. In each division of the school, strong academics, excellent music program, and various extracurricular activities provide the balance that is needed to grow well-rounded students. The school has a beautiful and modern facility, but the thing that leaves the strongest impression on families is their warm and friendly staff. Highly qualified and trained staff consistently seeks to make meaningful connections with students and their families, showing them the care and love that is needed for children to grow and mature into healthy, productive contributors in society.
Torchbearer of the School
Dr. Scott Finnamore is the Head of School at Tianjin International School. He has been instrumental to the success of TIS by building outstanding relationships with the Chinese Government and successfully leading the transition to the current campus. I have lived in China for almost 17 years, and I have seen many changes in our city of Tianjin. But one thing I have been so grateful for is TIS which year after year is a constant in the expat life where things always seem to be in motion. The community I have found at TIS gives busy expats a place to call home. We’d love for you to join TIS to be a part of that community.-says Dr. Scott Finnamore
Life of Students
Tianjin International School’s purpose-built campus is designed to meet the learning needs of international students in the 21st century. The campus boasts 75 modern classrooms, 5 fully-equipped science laboratories, 2 libraries, a full performing arts center, state-of-the-art auditorium, full size indoor double court gymnasium, and tennis courts, separate playgrounds for the kindergarten and elementary students, outdoor classroom for Early Childhood and more.
Students at Tianjin International School are involved with many activities on campus. A variety of activities are offered for the purposes of building relationships, developing new skills, being part of a team, and having fun! Activities include art, band, Model United Nations, Journalism, community service projects, yearbook, drama, student council, competitive sports and much more.
The exercise book that was dispatched to 48 eighth-graders of the SMIC Private School in Shanghai featured a joke “Mommy’s Washcloth” that compared a woman’s pubic hair to a washcloth and ended with a punchline about sexual activity.
The joke, listed in a “light and funny” chapter, asked the pupils, who were aged 12 to 13, to write down what they had learned about the joke and what they felt about it as part of their English-language homework during the winter holiday.
The school, which charges fees of between 50,000 and 120,000 yuan (US$7,350-US$30,000) a year, was at the centre of food safety scare in October when parents found rotten tomatoes and onions as well as expired seasoning in the kitchen used to make pupils’ meals.The principal at the time was dismissed over the scandal.
The latest incident prompted further complaints from parents and one sent the textbook to the Shanghai cultural enforcement squad.This week the Pudong educational authorities said in a statement that they had investigated the matter and found that the school had failed to check the textbook properly.
“It is a serious violation of regulations and shows the chaotic management of textbooks of SMIC Private School,” the authority said.The authority later told The Beijing News that the book was not an officially approved one and had been bought by the school of its own accord.
The school said in a statement that its deputy principal, who is responsible for textbooks, had been given a “severe warning” and it would improve its vetting process.The school is in the process of recalling the textbooks, which were produced by Shanghai Easter Laser Education and Culture Company.The publisher apologised to the school for its severe negligence.
“We feel very ashamed and guilty for the severe negligence and mistake in compiling and approving the textbook,” the company said in a statement.The editor responsible for the book has been sacked and the officials in the editors department received a demerit warning.
The Bilingual Teacher Student Association (BTSA), at UCI, hosted the end of the year bilingual community celebration this year at Cha Cha’s Latin Kitchen in Irvine on June 4. This year, the attendees included: MAT bilingual candidates, new and present board members of BTSA, past BTSA presidents, MAT bilingual alumni and incoming MAT bilingual candidates.bilingual teacher qualification
BTSA president, Alejandra Grande, passed out stoles to graduating members of BTSA. Three of the four receiving stoles this evening, with future bilingual teacher embroidered on them, are also the first group to graduate with a minor in Spanish/English Bilingual Education from the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. The new minor officially launched this past fall of 2018. A total of six undergraduates from UCI were able to successfully minor in the new field before graduating this year.
Also receiving stoles this evening were the six MAT bilingual candidates. They successfully completed their student teaching assignments in dual immersion classrooms this past year. Four of the six have secured teaching positions at dual immersion schools. Susan Guilfoyle, bilingual coordinator, presented the six stoles to the newly minted bilingual teachers at the event. UCI undergraduates, graduates, alumni and mentors made this a wonderful celebration for our growing bilingual teaching familia.
As college admissions get increasingly competitive, you want to do everything possible to prepare your child.But do not forget the arts. A performing arts education is important for your child's overall education and can even improve his or her academic performance.Children's performing arts
In an Arts Education Partnership study, researchers analyzed 62 studies about the arts and their effect on academic achievement. They found that an arts education can actually improve academic skills like reading and math.Beyond academic preparation, there are many other reasons why students should study performing arts.
1. They Learn Discipline
Involvement in the arts requires a huge commitment of both time and motivation. For example, performing in band, orchestra, or choir often requires daily practice. As they prepare for performances, students learn that success takes hard work. This lesson will benefit them in every aspect of their lives.Participating in the arts also teaches students how to deal with failure and criticism. They learn that even if they don't always give their best performance, they can keep striving for improvement.
2. It Increases Confidence
Performing in front of an audience increases your child's confidence. Confidence will benefit your child in his or her pursuits in college, and especially in their future work setting. Whether he or she makes speeches, meets with clients, or makes presentations, confidence is paramount to career success.
3. They Learn How to Think Creatively
Involvement in theater helps students learn to understand multifaceted stories and analyze complex issues within the play. Involvement in visual arts helps students learn to convey their inner thoughts and emotions to others in a distinctive way. These thinking skills can help your child succeed in school, especially as he or she writes essays or completes projects.
4. They Learn to Collaborate With Others
Unlike many other academic pursuits, the performing arts are directly linked with collaboration. With music, drama, and dance, your child must work as a team with peers to create a beautiful finished product.No matter which future career you child chooses, he or she will need to collaborate with people from many backgrounds. Both colleges and employers want to know that your child works well with others. Performing arts can give them a head start.
5. It Enhances Their College Applications
Academic performance isn't the only thing colleges look for. Colleges want to accept a wide variety of students with different skills and abilities. Experience in the performing arts can help your child seem less like a number in a sea of applicants and more like a passionate student with a unique personality and interests.When students include their experience in the arts in their admissions essays, they give admissions staff a better idea of their character. They can also talk about any volunteer experiences they've had through the performing arts, such as performing at a nursing home or creating artwork for children in need.
Don't let your child focus solely on academics. Whether your child prefers drama, creative writing, music, dance, or visual art, encourage them to pursue a path in the performing arts. Choose a school for your child that recognizes the importance of the arts in the educational curriculum.
Universities and colleges in the United States are trying new programs for international students to increase enrollment and income.International middle school
Some universities are experimenting with bringing international high school students to their campuses. These programs permit students to complete their high school diploma while earning college credit at the same time.
University campus, high school and college credit
One example of this model is at the University of Southern Maine, or USM. The program is called the “International Academy”. The school is expecting its first class of international high school students this fall.Joanna Evans is the director for the academy. The program is officially a “boarding school on a university campus” that serves 11th and 12th grade international high school students only.
The students will take classes at the University of Southern Maine to complete their high school diploma. However, because the classes are university-level, the students will receive college credit at the same time.
According to Evans, the students they recruit will have to be very strong. Their course schedule will be the same as taking only advanced-placement courses. The goal is that, by the time they complete their high school diploma at the academy, they will be ready to start college as a third-year college student.Their English language skills also must be strong. The Academy looks for students with a minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL score of 79, or a 6.5 on the International English Testing System, or IELTS. However, there are classes available to provide additional English language training when the students arrive if they need it.
All incoming students at the academy are required to take a college writing class their first semester. If English is not their first language, they will take a class taught by instructors with a background in teaching students who speak English as a foreign language.
Although they are only high school students, the expectations are the same as for college students. Evans says that faculty are not asked to change how they teach.“Students need to be ready to take university classes, and that is the deal” Evans said.When the University of Southern Maine first decided to create the academy, the goal was to increase the enrollment at the university. Enrollment was down at USM. Evans noted that “any institution that offers a broad range of programming has to maintain enrollment to maintain programming.”
The university also wanted to increase school revenue. For state institutions in the U.S., in-state students pay much less than out-of-state or international students.
Schools across the U.S. have found that increasing their number of international students brings in more money. International students simply pay more to enroll.
However, there are many academic benefits for students as well, Evans says.
“What’s really important, in terms of offering a high-quality education, is helping students have the opportunity to work with people who come from different backgrounds,” Evans said. “Learning to work effectively with people who are different from themselves is a world skill, a life skill, and a 21st century skill.”
By increasing the diversity in lower-level university classes, Evans explains, the American students get experience with international students, and vice-versa.