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How a ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Relationship Really Works

The phrase “don’t ask, don’t tell” may bring to mind the discriminatory policy from the ’90s that kept LGBTQ+ folks in the U.S. military from sharing information about their sexuality or non-cis gender. But the phrase has another meaning in polyamorous circles: a non-monogamous relationship structure that allows some kinds of physical, sexual, and/or emotional connections with people outside the core (or primary) relationship.

Thankfully, the former interpretation of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was repealed by Congress in 2011, while the latter is a relationship agreement practiced by many lovers today. But what does a DADT relationship look like exactly? And can it work? Due to the down-low nature of the extra-relationship flings involved, the answers to these basic questions can feel nebulous—so we asked relationship therapists to set the record straight.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” relationships, explained

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) is a relationship agreement where both (or all) people in the relationship have enthusiastically consented to a relationship structure where one or more of the people in the relationship are free to pursue and engage in sexual, romantic, and/or emotional mingling with someone(s) outside of the relationship.

The catch, however, is that the people in the “original” relationship do not discuss these extra-relational connections, and therefore do not know what their partner is up to, explains psychotherapist and sex and relationship expert Rachel Wright, LMFT, host of the podcast The Wright Conversations: A Podcast About Sex, Relationships, and Mental Health. “Someone in one of these agreements, for example, might say things like, ‘I don’t care if my partner has sex with someone, but I don’t want to know anything about it’,” she says.

“Someone in one of these agreements, for example, might say things like, ‘I don’t care if my partner has sex with someone, but I don’t want to know anything about it.’” —Rachel Wright, LMFT, psychotherapist

Exactly what the individuals in the relationship are allowed to pursue will vary, says Brett Chamberlin, executive director at the Organization for Polyamory & Ethical Non-monogamy. “Some agreements will allow the partners to have intercourse with other individuals so long as they use barriers, while other people may limit activity to kissing in public places, like on the dance floor,” he says. In the former example, it would be considered a breach of the relationship agreement (aka cheating) if one of the partners did not use protection, while in the other it would be considered a breach if someone went home with the cutie from the dance floor, he says.

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How little (or much) the individuals in the relationship ask and tell also varies among DADT relationships. “Some people might want to know who their partner is seeing and where they are going, but not any of the specific details of what happens on the date,” says Chamberlin. Meanwhile, other people might be okay simply knowing that their partner is going out—and not knowing whether that’s with a right swipe, friend, or ongoing boo, he says.

Regardless of the exact agreements at play, a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” relationship structure allows people to receive only the information they actually want to receive, within a container that is safe, loving, and consensual. “It offers a clear and intentional way to create a filter valve on the flow of information,” says psychotherapist and board-certified sex therapist Shadeen Francis, LMFT, CST.

Is DADT a form of non-monogamy?

Great question. “If everyone involved is consenting to it being a DADT situation, then yes, it is a form of non-monogamy,” says Wright.

As a refresher: Non-monogamy is any kind of relationship wherein people are allowed to, within the agreements of their relationship(s), form romantic and/or sexual connections with multiple people, explains Wright. You may have heard non-monogamy referred to as ethical non-monogamy (or ENM), but many polyamorous educators, therapists, and practitioners are moving away from that nomenclature, she says. Simply, because there is no such thing as unethical non-monogamy—if it’s not ethical, it’s not non-monogamy at all, but cheating.

“If not everyone is consenting to the DADT situation, then that would be cheating,” says Wright. Cheating, she explains, is about breaking a relationship agreement. “If the agreement is ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ then there’s nothing being broken when nothing is asked and nothing is told, and therefore it is not a form of cheating, but a style of non-monogamy.”

No, DADT relationships aren’t (usually) just lying in disguise

DADT relationships are often stereotyped for being used by monogamous folks to excuse away affairs and other extramarital lies, says Francis.

But there are many (many!) ways for folks to set up their DADT relationship that don’t involve lying, says Francis. “There is a common understanding that being honest means sharing all information possible at all times, and under this perspective, privacy—especially when there are firm lines around it—is deception,” she says.

But in actuality, it’s possible to be honest with your partner(s) without sharing absolutely everything. People with all different relationship structures actively filter out details of what they share and don’t share with their partner, says Francis. For instance: Do you volunteer all your financial activity to your partner? Do you share with them the details of your conversations with your friends? Do you talk about your bowel movements? “Every person and relationship has different agreements about what they do and do not choose to be shared,” says Francis.

The difference: In a relationship marked by honesty, the people within the relationship have created agreements about what needs to be shared—and what does not need to be shared—in order to honor each individual’s wants and boundaries.

The potential downsides of DADT

“There can be many problems with DADT, however it isn’t an inherently flawed relationship modality,” says Francis. Still, if you’re considering the structure for yourself, certain potential issues are worth acknowledging.

Generally speaking, DADT relationship structures work best when one (or all) of the people in the primary relationship travel for work, or the individuals do not live (aka nest) together, says Zane. Without these built-in separations, you’re more likely to fall into the pitfalls of lying, he says.

DADT dynamics also generally work best when the amount of sex, romance, or other agreed-upon form of intimacy you want to have outside of the relationship is relatively low. “If you’re constantly having sex with others, and then needing to lie about what you did and where you were to your partner, it’s likely that your relationship will explode rather quickly,” sex educator Zachary Zane, sex expert for the dating app Archer, previously told Well+Good.

Given the nature of the arrangement, DADT can offer particular challenges when a boundary is broken. After all, it can be tricky to disclose that a boundary was breached without sharing information that is normally deemed off-limits. That’s why Francis says it’s important to preemptively have a plan of action in place for moving forward if this happens. (More on this in a sec!)

A “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” relationship can work—here’s how to tell if it’s for you1. Reflect, reflect, reflect

Sure, this type of agreement might sound perfect to you (and your partners) upon first glance. But before you implement it, Wright recommends digging a little deeper to understand why, exactly, this relationship set-up is appealing to you.

Start by analyzing your current relationship, she says, assuming you’re in one. Is a DADT relationship something that uniquely excites you… or is it your first-stop solution to a component that currently feels like it is missing? Are there other things you could implement—for instance, a weekly date night, mutual masturbation, a vibrator, etc.—that could also fill the same void? In general, introducing third (fourth, or fifth) parties is a messier, less effective way at fixing existing relationship issues than solving for the issue within the pre-existing dyad (or triad).

2. Think about your communication skills

Next, noodle on your comfortability communicating with your boo. Does this relationship structure have appeal to you because you don’t trust that your partner can share about their dalliances in a way that honors your feelings? Or, maybe it’s because you don’t trust yourself to tactfully share about your other bonds with your boo?

While these are both *fine* reasons to come to a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” relationship, they do hint at other communication break-downs within your dyad that will likely continue to come up, no matter your relationship structure.

“In an ideal situation, the folks practicing DADT are not using the label to shield themselves from honest communication, from the vulnerable process of relationship negotiation, or to ignore one another’s boundaries by doing things in secret,” says Francis. But rather, they are open to vulnerability, have strengthened their communication skills, and are choosing this structure because they’ve discerned it’s best for them after thoughtful deliberation, she says.

3. Negotiate for success

Given that the degree of discretion in DADT agreements can range from complete secrecy to, “I’d rather not hear about details of how you spent your time together with others until I’m in the right headspace to listen,” Francis notes that you and your partner(s) will need to get granular about what the DADT framework means for you specifically.

Here, Francis offers some questions to consider together:

What information do you want to know for your health, safety, or well-being?What information do you need to know to feel respected, loved, and invested in this relationship?What information do you not want or need about my other relationships?Under what circumstances should I make something known, or signal to you that I want or need to share something with you?How will you signal to me that you’d like to know more details or information?

“Asking these questions bi-directionally can help you build a solid foundation for your non monogamy, and keep your choice to practice DADT,” she says.

4. Work with a couples therapist or polyamory coach

PSA: You don’t have to make this decision all on your own. A non-monogamy-informed couples therapist or polyamory educator can help you and your partner(s) figure out exactly what kind of relationship agreement(s) make sense for you.

“I work with a lot of couples who are opening up their monogamous relationship into a non-monogamous relationship and help them come up with agreements around what they want to ask and share, if anything,” says Wright.

5. Research other forms of non-monogamy

A DADT style relationship may be what you and your boo(s) decide works best for you. However, you won’t really know if that is the case until you learn about other forms of relationship agreements.

“There are some great discord servers, meet-up groups, online educators, and written resources on these topics,” Chamberlin says. Some great starting points are listening to the Multiamory podcast, reading books like Polysecure by Jessica Fern, and following polyamorous and non-monogamist sex educators like Remodeled Love, Gab Alexa, Bear & Fifi, and Chill Polyamory on Instagram.

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Watch People From All Different Backgrounds React Emotionally to the Impact of ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ (VIDEO) | The Gateway Pundit

Oliver Anthony’s breakout hit song ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ is still taking the country by storm.

The song was uploaded to YouTube just a week ago and now has over 19 million views.

The liberal media rushed to classify Anthony’s song as merely ‘right wing’ talking points, but as you’ll see below, the song has an amazing effect on people of all kinds of backgrounds.

RedState reports:

Watch: Oliver Anthony’s ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ Causes Deep Emotional Impact in All Types of People

When a red-bearded stranger standing in front of a deer blind and surrounded by dogs began strumming his guitar and singing into a microphone, few people were ready for how deeply his song would impact them. The world was taken by surprise as Oliver Anthony, a no-name farmer from Farmville, Virginia, soulfully sang the woes of a vast swath of Americans so well that his song made him a successful superstar overnight…

The politicians in Washington D.C. were pointed to as the source of the problems we’re experiencing, and needless to say, they didn’t like that. Immediately, the leftist attack machine began working against Anthony, painting him as a man associated with the “far right,” and attempting to make his song politically polarizing. The aim was to divide the people against one another over the subjects sung in the song, thus crippling its rise in the public consciousness and hampering its message.

But judging by a recent video compilation put together by Matt Orfalea, it didn’t work. People from all walks of life have been watching and reacting to the song, and it would appear that no matter what walk of life you hail from, this song resonates with you. In fact, it hits some people so deeply that it causes them to weep.

Watch this:

America reacts to “Rich Men North of Richmond” pic.twitter.com/zW60E9Lyz1

— Matt Orfalea (@0rf) August 16, 2023

Do you believe all of the people in that video are right wing?

That’s what the media would have you think.

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How to use ChatGPT | Trusted Reviews

ChatGPT burst on to the scene as an conversational AI tool slated as an assistant for a wide variety of queries. Many AI initiatives from rivals have followed. If it’s caught your eye, here’s just how to use ChatGPT.

ChatGPT is a natural language processing tool aimed at helping users through conversations. Apps like Google’s Bard also does this, while Microsoft is working with ChatGPT owner OpenAI to integrate the tool with its apps and software – such as Microsoft Copilot.

For this guide, we’re focusing on how to use desktop but it is also available on Android and iOS. As this a simple and straightforward guide on the basics, many instructions will apply to some degree across all platforms. If it’s your first time, you can swiftly create an account. Let’s dive in.

What you’ll need:A ChatGPT accountA PC/MacA web browserThe Short VersionHead to https://chat.openai.com/Log in to your accountEnter prompt in the “Send a message” boxContinue conversation if you have further queries

Apple Music

Apple Music gives you access to over 100 million songs and 30,000 playlists, ad-free. Listen online or off, across all your devices, and hear sound all around in Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. You can now try 1 month for free!

AppleGet 1 month free£10.99 p/m

Sign up

TroubleshootingCan you use ChatGPT for free?

Using ChatGPT-3.5 is free but you have to pay for the “Plus” version to access the latesat ChatGPT-4.

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JUST IN: Maui’s Emergency Operations Chief Resigns Amid Controversy Over Failure to Sound Lifesaving Sirens During Deadly Wildfire – Cites “Health Reasons” | The Gateway Pundit

Herman Andaya, the head of the Maui Emergency Management Agency, has resigned effective immediately.

The sudden move comes amid intense scrutiny and questions over why officials did not activate the all-hazard outdoor warning system, which could have potentially saved lives.

“Today Mayor Richard Bissen accepted the resignation of Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Administrator Herman Andaya. Citing health reasons, Andaya submitted his resignation effective immediately,” according to the Facebook post.

“Given the gravity of the crisis we are facing, my team and I will be placing someone in this key position as quickly as possible and I look forward to making that announcement soon,” Mayor Bissen said.

The Gateway Pundit previously reported that Maui’s emergency operations chief, Herman Andaya, had no conventional background in disaster response, an alarming revelation that has heightened concerns over his decision-making.

Andaya’s department was responsible for sounding the warning sirens, but these crucial alarms remained ominously silent during the firestorm.

In a press conference that has already become infamous, Chief Andaya defended his choice to send out alerts via mobile devices, radio waves, television, and the county’s opt-in resident alert system instead of utilizing the sirens.

Andaya asserted that the sirens are typically reserved for tsunami warnings, and Hawaiians are trained to seek higher ground when they are sounded, which, in this dire scenario, would have led them towards the flames.

Seriously?

“The sirens, as I had mentioned earlier, is used primarily for tsunamis. And that’s the reason why many of them are found. Almost all of them are found on the coastline. The public is trained to seek higher ground in the event that the siren is sounded,” Andaya claimed.

“In fact, on the website of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the firing guideline is provided. If you are in a low-lying area near the coastline, evacuate to high grounds inland or vertically to the fourth floor and higher of a concrete building. Alerts may also come in the form of a wireless emergency alert,” he added.

“Had we sounded the siren that night, we’re afraid that people would have gone mauka [toward the mountains]. And if that was the case, then they would have gone into the fire.”

“I should also note that there are no sirens mauka, or on the mountainside, where the fire was spreading down. So even if we sounded the siren, we would not have saved those people out there on the mountainside,” he added.

Maui Emergency Operations Chief Herman Andaya says he does not regret not sounding the sirens during the devastating wildfires:

“The public is trained to seek higher ground in the event that the sirens sounded … If that was the case, then they would’ve gone into the fire.” pic.twitter.com/0FpPhuI4hK

— The Recount (@therecount) August 17, 2023

The press did not shy away from questioning whether Andaya would consider delegating further responsibility to others. In response, he defiantly rejected the notion that he didn’t have experience before assuming his current role.

He pointed to his employment history in the housing department and as a staffer in the mayor’s cabinet, during which time he reported to the emergency operation centers.

“To say that I am not qualified, I think is incorrect,” Andaya added.

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Rep. Ronny Jackson Sees Huge Boom in Fundraising – Surge in Small Donors | The Gateway Pundit

Despite the fact that Texas Republican Rep. Ronny Jackson was recently detained while trying to provide medical assistance at a rodeo, he is experiencing a surge in fundraising.

In the second quarter of this year, Jackson’s fundraising outpaced all other GOP House members in Texas.

Perhaps people are responding to Jackson’s willingness to speak publicly about Biden’s diminished mental capacity.

Breitbart News reports:

The Doctor Is In: Texas’s Ronny Jackson Blows Away Fundraising Expectations

Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) is on the rise in Texas and nationally as the second-term firebrand congressman and former White House doctor to two presidents is on a fundraising tear this year, and the surge he’s seen in small-dollar donors has some wondering if he’s ready for a statewide run soon.

Jackson, in the second quarter, raised north of a million dollars—more than any other GOP U.S. House member in Texas—and for the whole first half of 2023 the Texas conservative was the number one online fundraiser of any House GOP member not in leadership.

At an average donation of $14.86, with 86,313 small dollar unitemized contributions in the first six months of 2023 Jackson raised $1,282,538. That amount of donations—not the dollar amount, the number of donations—is higher than many presidential campaigns, like those of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, or Miami mayor Francis Suarez saw.

While Jackson is not running for president, he even more than doubled the total number of donors—40,000—required to make the first debate stage at the Republican National Committee (RNC) debate next week.

Maybe people are responding to his positive spirit. Here are two of his recent tweets:

The Georgia DA wants to make it a CRIME to watch @OANN! They want to make watching @RSBNetwork a CRIME! They want to criminalize ALL conservative news!!

— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) August 15, 2023

President Trump is the ONLY candidate who has what it takes to DEFEAT the corrupt FBI who’ve set their sights on American citizens. Vote for TRUMP!

— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) August 16, 2023

Jackson has big things in his future.

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DEVELOPING: IRS Agent “Accidentally” Shoots and Kills Another Agent During Training In Phoenix – FBI “Investigating” Incident (VIDEO) | The Gateway Pundit

Credit: @rawalerts screenshot

Phoenix, Arizona – An IRS agent was gunned down by one of his own Thursday evening during a training exercise according to ABC 15 News.

ABC 15 News also revealed that the FBI is “investigating” the shooting which is being called an accident.

Charlotte M. Dennis with the Phoenix Field Office of the IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) division told Arizona’s Family that it was aware of an “incident” involving one of its special agents.

She said the agent was taken to HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center, where he later passed away.

The FBI’s field office in Phoenix released an emailed statement vowing a “methodical” approach”:

The FBI’s investigation will be methodical and thorough to address every element of the incident,” an emailed statement said. Those findings will then be turned over to the U.S. Attorney’s Office (District of Arizona) for review.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) said the gun range was being utilized by multiple federal agencies at the time.

Here is a video of the aftermath of the shooting:

#BREAKING: IRS Agent Fatally Shoots and kills another Agent At Phoenix Shooting gun Range

#Phoenix | #Arizona

Right now Law enforcements and emergency crews are on the scene after a Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent lost their life due to an inadvertent shooting by… pic.twitter.com/jaa7ofwSSN

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) August 18, 2023

Catturd raised an interesting question on X (formally Twitter): what exactly is the IRS doing with guns?

Why do IRS agents need guns? https://t.co/afmFoNpQXM

— Catturd (@catturd2) August 18, 2023

Developing…

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Another Day, Another Fire at a Homeless Camp in Seattle (VIDEO) | The Gateway Pundit

Fires at homeless camps in Seattle are becoming all too common.

Just two weeks ago, there was a major fire at a homeless camp over an alleged drug dealing dispute.

Now there was another and there was so much smoke that it could be seen all over the city.

KING 5 News reports:

Encampment fire in Seattle caused by ‘reckless burning,’ investigators say

An encampment fire caused a massive plume of smoke to rise above downtown Seattle Monday afternoon.

The fire sparked in an encampment at Mercer Street near Fairview, close to an Interstate 5 on-ramp. Eastbound lanes of Mercer Street were blocked while firefighters worked on the scene.

There were no injuries reported and firefighters did not find anyone in the encampment.

Seattle Fire Department investigators say the fire on Mercer Street was intentionally set. A 46-year-old man was arrested for an investigation of reckless burning.

According to court documents, the man accused of setting the fire told officers at the scene that he was cleaning his tent when he knocked over a lit candle. He told police he did not initially notice the candle be knocked over, but attempted to extinguish the flames once his tent caught fire.

The smoke plume from the fire could be seen from across the water on Alki Beach.

See the video clips below:

Seattle encampment, fire pic.twitter.com/MnwOwIUdiw

— Glenn E. Malone, EdD (@GEMalone) August 15, 2023

Something is seriously on fire around Eastlake in Seattle right now pic.twitter.com/vzt50fOQ7J

— Sergey Yun (@iskra_9) August 15, 2023

Fire near downtown Seattle #fire #seattle pic.twitter.com/2WbEDuJfA3

— Hayssam (@destinatepath) August 15, 2023

WHAT A SCENE OFF I-5: Man arrested for reckless burning after fire erupts at Mercer Street encampment in Seattle

More from our @RyanTVnews here: https://t.co/0C3MjDmHUW pic.twitter.com/YcPxEzPTsU

— Steve McCarron KOMO (@SteveTVNews) August 15, 2023

For a progressive city that claims to care about the environment, Seattle sure has a lot of pointless and destructive fires.

(Image:Source)

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TOO LATE? Anheuser-Busch Heir Wants to Buy Back Bud Light in an Effort to Save the Brand | The Gateway Pundit

Billy Busch is the heir to Anheuser-Busch and he is not happy about what has happened to Bud Light.

He recently said that his ancestors would be rolling over in their graves if they saw what has happened with Dylan Mulvaney.

Now he is saying that he wants to buy back the brand in order to save it. Unfortunately for him, it may already be too late.

Via MSN:

Busch heir says he wants to buy back Bud Light, make it ‘great again’

For the past 15 years, the Anheuser-Busch family of beers has actually been part of a larger corporate conglomerate. Now, in light of a cultural firestorm and a steep drop in sales, the heir to the Busch family name says he’d like to get at least one of those beers back and “make it great again.”

Billy Busch, appearing on conservative activist Benny Johnson’s podcast, offered to purchase the beleaguered beer that was, as recently as this past spring, the leading seller in America for decades but saw a sudden 10.5% decline in sales, according to the company’s latest financial report, after partnering with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney for an advertising promotion.

“I know Anheuser-Busch InBev just sold off eight brands and if they ever decide to sell the Bud Light brand they could sell it to me,” Busch said. “I’d sure as heck try to pull some people together and buy that brand because I think we can make Bud Light great again.”

See the video below:

Anheuser-Busch Heir Billy Busch wants to buy Bud Light back:

“When you are a foreign company and you rely on these woke students that are coming out of these woke colleges to do your advertising for you, you are making a big mistake. Sell it to me.” pic.twitter.com/k18EXOpS9p

— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) August 17, 2023

The damage has already been done. It’s difficult to see consumers coming back to Bud Light any time soon.

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Ethical Considerations in IoT Data Collection

Last year, a court determined Richard Dabate — who police had found with one arm and one leg zip-tied to a folding chair in his home — was guilty of his wife’s murder. His elaborate story of a home invasion might have held water had it not been for Connie Dabate’s Fitbit, which showed her moving around for an hour after the alleged intruder took her life.

Few would argue this was a case of unethical data collection, but ethics and privacy have a complicated, at times sordid history. Rising from the ashes of such experiments as Henrietta Lacks’ cancer cell line, in which a biologist cultured a patient’s cells without her knowledge or consent, a new era of privacy ethics is taking shape — and it has people questioning right from wrong.

What Is IoT?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is shorthand for the vast, interconnected network of smart devices that collect and store information online. Projected to be worth over $1 trillion by 2030, it includes appliances people use at home — like TVs, voice assistants, and security cameras — as well as infrastructure like smart streetlights and electric meters. Many businesses use IoT to analyze customer data and improve their operations.

Unethical Data Collection and Use

There’s no question that IoT data is helpful. People use it for everything from remotely turning off the AC to drafting blueprints for city streets, and it has enabled significant improvements in many industries. However, it can also lead to unethical data collection and applications.

For example, using a person’s demographic information without their consent or for purposes beyond marketing and product development can feel like a breach of trust. Data misuse includes the following violations.

1. Mishandling Data

Collecting and storing vast amounts of data brings ethics and privacy into question. Some 28% of companies have experienced a cyberattack due to their use of IoT infrastructure, and these breaches often expose people’s sensitive or confidential information.

The average data breach cost in 2022 was $4.35 million — and a loss of consumer trust. For example, hospital network hacks can reveal patients’ medical history, credit card numbers, and home addresses, leaving already-struggling people even more vulnerable to financial woes. The loss of privacy can make people wary about using a service again.

Mishandling data isn’t unique to IoT devices, of course — 40% of salespeople still use informal methods like email and spreadsheets to store customer info, and these areas are also targets for hackers. But IoT devices often collect data beyond what you’d find on a spreadsheet.

2. Collecting Highly Personal Info

Home IoT devices are privy to uniquely private data. Although 55% of consumers feel unseen by the brands they interact with, many people would be shocked at how much businesses actually know about them.

Some smartwatches use body temperature sensors to determine when a user is ovulating, guessing their fertility levels, or predicting their next period. Smart toothbrushes reduce dental insurance rates for people who brush regularly and for the recommended two-minute interval.

In many cases, smart devices collect as much information as a doctor would, but without being bound by pesky HIPAA privacy laws. As long as users consent, companies are free to use the data for research and marketing purposes.

It’s an easy way to find out what customers really want. Like hidden trail cameras capturing snapshots of elusive animals, smart devices let businesses into the heart of the home without resorting to customer surveys or guesswork.

3. Not Following Consent and Privacy Ethics

It’s one thing to allow your Alexa speaker to record you when you say its name; most users know this feature. However, few realize Amazon itself holds onto the recordings and uses them to train the algorithm. There have also been cases where an Amazon Echo secretly recorded a conversation and sent it to random people on the users’ contact list, provoking questions about unethical data collection and privacy ethics.

Getting explicit consent is crucial when collecting, analyzing, and profiting off of user data. Many companies bury their data use policies deep in a terms-and-conditions list they know users won’t read. Some use fine print many people struggle to make out.

Then, there’s the question of willing consent. If users have to sign up for a specific email service or social media account for work, do they really have a choice of whether to participate in data collection? Some of the most infamous cases of violating privacy ethics dealt with forced participation.

For example, U.S. prisoners volunteered to participate in studies that would help the war effort during World War II. Still, they could not fully consent because they were physically trapped in jail. They tested everything from malaria drugs to topical skin treatments. Some volunteered in exchange for cigarette money or to potentially shorten their sentences.

Even if users give explicit consent, most people now consider collecting data — medical or otherwise — unethical by coercing people into doing so. Collecting data from people unaware they’re giving away sensitive information is also an ethics and privacy violation.

Characteristics of Ethical Data Use

How can data scientists, marketers, and IoT manufacturers keep users’ best interests in mind when collecting their data?

1. Ask for Permission

It’s crucial to always ask before using someone’s data — and ensure they heard you. IoT devices should come with detailed information about how the device will collect data, how often it will do so, how it will use the information, and why it needs it in the first place. These details should be printed in a clear, legible, large font and not be buried deep in a manual heavy enough to use as a paperweight.

2. Gather Just Enough

Before collecting information, decide if you really need it. How will it help advance your company’s objectives? What will you and your customers gain from it? Only gather data relevant to the problem at hand, and avoid collecting potentially sensitive information unless absolutely necessary.

For example, smart beds can track users’ heart rates, snoring, and movement patterns, but they can also collect data about a person’s race or gender. How many of these metrics are necessary for marketing and product development purposes?

3. Protect Privacy

After gathering data, keep it hidden. Strong cybersecurity measures like encryption and multi-factor authentication can hide sensitive data from prying eyes.

Another way to protect consumer privacy is to de-identify a data set. Removing all personally identifiable information from a data set and leaving just the numbers behind ensures that even if someone leaks the data, no one can connect it to real people.

4. Examine Outcomes

How might your data be used — intentionally or not — for other purposes? It’s important to consider who your data could benefit or harm if it leaves the confines of your business.

For example, if the data becomes part of an AI training set, what overall messages does it send? Does it contain any inherent biases against certain groups of people or reinforce negative stereotypes? Long after you gather data, you must continually track where it goes and its effects on the world at large.

Prioritizing Ethics and Privacy

Unethical data collection has a long history, and IoT plays a huge role in the continued debate about privacy ethics. IoT devices that occupy the most intimate of spaces — the smart coffee maker that knows you’re not a morning person, the quietly humming, ever-vigilant baby monitor — give the most pause when it comes to data collection, making people wonder if it’s all worth it.

Manufacturers of smart devices are responsible for protecting their customers’ privacy, but they also have strong incentives to collect as much useful data as possible, so IoT users should proceed with caution. It’s still a wild west for digital ethics and privacy laws. At the end of the day, only you can decide whether to unwind with a smart TV that might be watching you back — after all, to marketing companies, you are the most interesting content.

Featured Image Credit:

Zac Amos

Zac is the Features Editor at ReHack, where he covers tech trends ranging from cybersecurity to IoT and anything in between.

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Chuck Schumer Reality Checks Republicans On Hunter Biden

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that voters in swing states are more concerned about their lives and don’t care about Hunter Biden.

NPR reported on their interview with Sen. Schumer:

Schumer said those on the “hard right” will “salivate about Hunter Biden” but the majority of Americans will be focused on the cost for insulin that will be $35 and the cap for prescription drugs.

“People care most about getting their costs down, making sure there are good paying jobs for themselves and their kids. That’s what the IRA has done,” Schumer said. “And I believe by the time the election gets closer, that will be the dominant thing in people’s mind. Not any of this stuff.”

Majority Leader Schumer is correct. When voters go to the polls in 2024 to determine control of the White House and Congress they won’t be thinking about Hunter Biden. They will be thinking about democracy, whether or not they have the right to control their own bodies, and the economy. They will be thinking about whether they want to be plunged back into the pool of crazy, crime,and corruption that is Donald Trump.

Voters will be thinking about a lot of things, but it is a safe bet to believe that Hunter Biden won’t be one of them.

Just because something plays well on Fox News and conservative media, it doesn’t mean that it will work in the real world.

Chuck Schumer was correct. Reality is coming to deliver a tough lesson to Republicans.

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