Data privacy | Stories, Social Media & Tech

My name is Terri Nakamura, I’m a graphic designer and writer, and I’ve been a social media aficionado and netizen since the early 2000s. On March 18, 2024, my tweets and connections were rudely hijacked, and I was shocked to discover that hackers had stolen my paid “Twitter Blue” @terrinakamura Twitter/X account!

Has this happened to you or someone close to you? It’s worrisome, time-consuming, and, in my case, incredibly frustrating.

Since March 18, I’ve been trapped in a never-ending nightmare, fighting through countless support requests and presenting a mountain of evidence to Twitter. I’ve shared receipts of my payment for Twitter Blue, selfies, a barrage of links and screenshots, and official “Twitter” scans of my legal ID – all hoping to prove my identity and ownership. But Twitter remains unconvinced, and it’s been unbelievable and disheartening.

If any of you know a human being employed by Twitter, or maybe someone who USED to be employed before (according to CNN) Elon Musk fired 6,000 people, I would be beyond grateful to talk with someone who could shed light on this insanity.

Out of sheer desperation, I did something I never thought I would – I recorded a video of myself speaking. I did this to share my story and the frustration I’ve been experiencing, hoping that it might resonate or inspire someone to help.

I’ve been a podcast interview guest with Neal Schaffer, Tim Hughes, Rod Jones, Avery Nishimura, Begoña Pino, Julian Leahy, and others. For me, it’s much easier to answer questions than to just talk by myself. I’d been thinking of posting a YouTube video, and today, I finally sat down and made one. I wish I’d spent more time making myself look presentable, but oh, well. I gathered a few visual props and turned on the camera. I didn’t rehearse, and it was done in one take, with imperfections and all.

The Seattle PD and the Washington State Attorney General have taken up my cause, stepping up to help me reclaim what was unjustly taken from me. Both take identity theft very seriously, wheras Twitter doesn’t. But still, the hackers remain at large, enjoying the show from their parents’ basement.

Have any of you experienced this level of frustration when regaining access to a hacked account? I’ve been told LinkedIn and META are much better neighborhoods when it comes to keeping users safe from account theft. Were you able to resolve the issue? If so, could you please share your story with me?

Your assistance could make a difference, and I will be forever grateful for any help you can provide.

I hope you’ll check out my link to the video:

https://buff.ly/3J4urB9

Many thanks, Terri

#TwitterBlueFail #identitytheft #hacking #customerservicefail #onlinefraud

TERRI’s WEBSITES

https://terrinakamura.com

https://www.alkisurfshop.com

https://www.thehorsfallhouse.com

TERRI’S LINKS

About Me:

https://about.me/terrinakamura

Amazon:

Flickr:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/terrinakamura/

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/terrinakamura

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/terrinakamura

https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrinakamura

Linktree

https://linktr.ee/terrinakamura

Tumblr

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/terrinakamura

Twitter

https://twitter.com/terrinaka (Currently tweeting from my backup account, @terrinaka
https://twitter.com/terrinakamura (@terrinakamura account is currently hacked)

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@TerriNakamura

What is Data Privacy Day?

Most of us are familiar with the sinking feeling we experience when we discover that one of our credit cards or online accounts was breached. Personally, in the past, I was more reactive than proactive but changed to now employ 2FA (two-factor authentication). It is an extra step that I find annoying sometimes, but it’s a minor annoyance if it helps protect our data.

Data Privacy Day (known in Europe as Data Protection Day) is an annual international event observed on January 28th. However, its activities often continue for a week or longer. It is depurpose is to raise awareness about the importance of protecting personal information and to encourage individuals and organizations to take action to protect personal information.

Data privacy is important because personal information, such as social security numbers, credit card numbers, and personal contacts, can be used for identity theft, financial fraud, and other malicious activities. Additionally, in today’s digital age, personal information is often collected and shared by companies, governments, and other organizations, which can raise concerns about how this information is used and who has access to it. Observing Data Privacy Day helps raise awareness of these issues and encourages individuals and organizations to take steps to protect personal information.

Preventing Unauthorized Digital Access

Folio Photonics recently showcased its optical storage advancements at CES 2023. Steve Sanatamaria, CEO of Folio Photonics. provided a quote on this very timely and important topic:

“It is no secret that data is at the center of everything you do. Whether you are a business, a nonprofit, an educational institution, a government agency, or the military, it is vital to your everyday operations. It is, therefore, critical that the appropriate person(s) in your organization have access to the data they need anytime, anywhere, and under any conditions. However, it is of equal importance that you keep it from falling into the wrong hands.

Therefore, when managing current and archival data, a top concern must be data security and durability, not just today but for decades upon decades into the future. The ideal data storage solution must offer encryption and WORM (write-once, read-many) capabilities. It must require little power and minimal climate control. It should be impervious to EMPs, salt water, high temps, and altitudes. And, all archive solutions must have 100+ years of media life and be infinitely backward compatible, while still delivering a competitive TCO. But most importantly, the data storage must have the ability to be air-gapped as this is truly the only way to prevent unauthorized digital access.”

How Can We Get Involved in Data Privacy Week 2023?

Organizations, including the National Cybersecurity Alliance and IAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals) list activities and events in the coming weeks. Check out the National Cybersecurity Alliance (StaySafeOnline) video below, or visit the IAPP website for more information:

Data Privacy Week, Jan. 2-28, 2023.

Make Data Security and Privacy Safeguards a Habit

There are many reasons why it’s important to be aware and proactive about protecting our privacy and data.

Personal information can be used for identity theft, which can cause financial harm and damage to our credit.

Companies and organizations may use personal information for targeted advertising, which can be invasive and creepy.

Governments may use personal information for surveillance, which can be a violation of civil liberties.

Personal information can be hacked or leaked, which can embarrass or damage our reputation.

Protecting our privacy and data is essential because it helps maintain our autonomy and control over our personal information. The more we take measures to secure our data, the greater our sense of well-being.

More about Terri: