Voices for Information Equity talk

I was so pleased to be an invited speaker as a part of the Voices for Information Equity webinar series put together by my esteemed colleague Dr. Melissa Villa-Nicholas and hosted by the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Rhode Island. 

My talk, Listening at the Library: Surveillance in the Stacks Gets Smart, discussed key privacy issues associated with integrating smart voice speakers and digital assistant technologies into library services and programming:

This webinar explores key privacy issues associated with emerging technologies in library services and programming. Building on a recent study about smart voice assistant integration in libraries, Sweeney identifies important questions about patron data collection, management, and use across the lifecycle of smart technologies. Tracing these concerns raises important questions for libraries about the need for pro-active engagement with data privacy in advance of technology adoption, and lays the ground work for libraries to set a broader professional agenda for data privacy that places community safety and tech accountability at the center of library services.*

We had a wonderful turnout of about 70 attendees; my MANY thanks to those who came, participated, and asked wonderful questions. I had a ton fun talking to everyone.



*You can read more about these issues in my related publications:

Sweeney, M.E. (2021). Digital Assistants. In Agostinho, D., D’Ignazio, C., Ring, A., Thylstrup, N.B., & Veel, K. (Eds.), Uncertain Archives. Baltimore, Maryland: MIT Press. (Pre-print available at ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/6348.)

Sweeney, M.E. & Davis, E. (2020). Alexa, are you listening? An exploration of smart voice assistant use and privacy in libraries. Information Technology and Libraries, 39(4). https://doi.org/10.6017/ital.v39i4.12363. (Pre-print available at http://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/6783)