Park Forest to Host Cybersecurity Seminar Focused on Digital Privacy and Artificial Intelligence
Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)—As artificial intelligence becomes more common and companies collect more personal information, consumers increasingly worry about digital privacy. For the third year straight, former state Rep. Al Riley will host a seminar on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
Park Forest residents can learn how their personal information is collected, used, and potentially exposed at a cybersecurity awareness seminar on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive.
The event features a powerhouse in the field: Professor Shawn Davis. Davis holds an M.I.T.M. (Master of Information Technology Management) and serves as an adjunct professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He is also the chief information officer and chief technologist for investigations at Edelson PC. Mr. Davis will lead the discussion.
The free seminar, titled “Digital Privacy, Data Collection, Personal Surveillance and You, in the Era of A.I.,” will examine online security, cellphone safety, and the role artificial intelligence plays in everyday technology. In addition, you can learn the power of education over A.I.
Cybersecurity Seminar Will Explore How Corporations Collect and Use Personal Information
Davis will explain how corporations and data aggregators collect personal information and what happens to that data. He will also explain how emerging technologies are changing the way people communicate and interact online.
The presentation will also address privacy concerns involving streaming devices, smart televisions, facial recognition technology, and social media.
For many consumers, these technologies have become part of their daily routines. Often, they do so without fully understanding how much information they share.
“Technology is constantly changing. It’s important for residents to understand how those changes can affect their privacy and personal security,” said Adina McCollough, Park Forest’s superintendent of recreation and community health. “This seminar is an opportunity for people to ask questions, become more informed, and walk away with practical steps they can use to protect themselves and their families.”
Beyond Personal Devices to Artificial Intelligence
The discussion will extend beyond personal devices to examine the growing influence of artificial intelligence in communications, social media, technology, and the arts.
Davis will also explore the expansion of data centers, cryptocurrency, and the broader implications of an increasingly connected world.
While the seminar will address potential risks, organizers also hope to provide residents with useful information they can apply immediately.
“People shouldn’t have to be technology experts to understand what’s happening with their personal information,” McCollough said. “The goal is to make these conversations accessible and give residents the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their digital lives.”
The free event is hosted and sponsored by former state Rep. Al Riley.
Additional Speaker Background
According to Edelson PC, Mr. Davis has testified in federal court and briefed members of Congress on Capitol Hill, state legislators, and attorneys general regarding
- artificial intelligence,
- cybersecurity,
- privacy,
- voting system security,
- and children’s privacy issues, with particular focus on surreptitious geotracking.
His personal tech hero is Linus Torvalds, the Finnish-American software engineer who created the Linux kernel.
This is news from the Village of Park Forest and former state Rep. Al Riley.
