Terms & Conditions May Apply $(2013)$ Discussion Questions$/$Response

By Cullen Hobeck

As we watch the $2013$ documentary, Terms & Conditions May Apply, consider and respond to these discussion questions. They are approximately in chronological $($time$)$ order. These questions will ask you to respond to both ideas and rhetorical strategies $($ethos$,$ pathos, logos$,$ visual strategies, clips, etc.$)$ the director uses to present his argument.

There are many references to time stamps of the film in these questions. When you're reading those and looking for those sections to rewatch, here is a key:

$00$:$00$:$00$ the left section $($red$)$ means hours, the middle section $($yellow$)$ means minutes, and the right section $($green$)$ means seconds.

You can access the documentary in Canvas and use the bottom cursor to move throughout the video.

The documentary kicks off with a set of images that depict a cursor hovering over and clicking on the "agree" buttons to things like Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies. There is music used to accompany these images that could be described as ominous, or threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments. Why do you think the director chose to do this? What is his purpose or intended effect on his audience? Does it work?

During the animated sequence at the beginning of the film that depicts the difference between a "traditional" doctor's visit and a digital world visit, there is a song that plays in the background. The title is "Cold Feet" by Lost Lander. Listen to and look up the lyrics to the song. Why might the director have chosen this song and these words to accompany these images?

Notice at$,00$:$05$:$38($and consistently throughout the rest of the film$),$ the use of fonts. What web service logos do they remind you of$?$ Why do you think the director chose to do this?

At $00$:$07$:$36,$ they highlight that in the AT&T terms and conditions, there is a clause that states they can use your data to "investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities." What do you think that means? What questions does that raise for you?

At $00$:$09$:$00-00$:$10$:$16,$ there is an overview of how initial internet privacy legislation was brought to Congress, and then how the events of September $11$th$,2001,$ stalled those efforts