Why I'll never go to the Trinity International Hip Hop Festival again...

This year I made my regular 2.5 hour pilgrimage to Hartford, CT for the Trinity International Hip Hop Festival - where I expected to bask in the glow of the good vibes and music that I've been enjoying over the last three years. Here's our recap from 2012.  However, my trip  this year was cut short. 

Why? 

As I entered the hall to see the Saturday night showcase featuring the likes of Dead Prez, security asked me for my ID.  I gladly obliged.  As one member of the security staff was putting a bracelet on my arm, the other security person was taking a photograph of my driver's license using a cheap, hand-held digital camera.  I'm usually pretty laid back.  But to say I became livid would be an understatement.

They didn't ask my consent; there was no encryption; and there was no explanation as to what was going to be done with this image. 

Party over for me.  I demanded that they take off the bracelet and delete that photo.  And me being me...I just decided to get back on the road and take the 2.5 hour trip home.  There are way too many things competing for my time than to waste it having my privacy violated.  I did speak with some of the organizers, who were very gracious and kindly asked me to stay.  But the reality is that I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself while campus security is recklessly collecting everyone's personal information on an unecrypted, handheld digital camera.  Basically, I didn't sign up for that nonsense.

Anyone thinking of going to another Trinity International Hip Hop Festival can definitely expect to encounter some great musicians and good vibes.  And you can also expect to have your privacy violated when a nameless security person stores your senstive personal data without your consent and potentially expose you to identify theft.  Won't be me...

[It really doesn't speak well for Trinity College that this is the best security measure they can put in place.  Can anyone say, "legal liability for theft of data"?]

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