Privacy and anonymity and information network technologies
Privacy and anonymity and information network technologiesWe might assume that nothing new could be said about the issue of
privacy behond the basic notion that it is something secluded from the
inclusion of others, a virtue and right that every citizen of a
democratic society might possess. However, if that were actually the
case then we would not see our culture involved in debates about the
issues regarding privacy and anonymity as they relate to new information
technologies.
The primary reason for such concerns is that information has become a
commodity in what we have come to know as the 'information age'. With
the advent of new technologies; particularly that of the Internet this
information can be sold and exchanged quite easily. Before the use of
widespread computer technologies, our personal information had no real
value beyond its immediate transaction. When data and information was
provided by a citizen or consumer it had no secondary reuse. However,
due to advances in technology and data retrieval systems and
transactions, information has been given commercial value, especially
with regards to the issue of who owns and controls this information.
The information age has been a period that has allowed rights to privacy
to beocme seriously jeopardized by new information technologies.
Richard A. Spinello, has defined two distinct phases to the systematic
erosion of information privacy. The first he calls the 'data base
phase'. The emergence of sophisticatd data base technology in the early
eighties made it possible to store and retrieve large amounts of
information efficiently and economically. During this time,
considerable amounts of personal data were transfered to computerized
records, which have been stored on record. Another implicator in the
invasion of privacy has been what is described as a 'network phase', in
which many individuals and organizations are relying heavily on digital
networks such as the Internet to help conduct their personal business.
The Internet specifically has facilitated the integration of different
databases and allowed data to become completely mobile, and easily
retreived by anyone. The use of such networks has expanded the
capability of elctronically pinpointing an individual or checking up of
personal backgrounds by following electronic trails of information.
There has become a realm where immediate on-line personal data is
available to anyone with the simplest personal computer system. The
implications on idividual privacy are great; we hve become completely
transparent to anyone who wants to take a little time to investigate
one's background. What becomes a more important question is what types
of information can be deemed as public and private, and as this
information is stored who may legally claim access to it....
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