Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Scott McNealy, former CEO of Sun Microsystems, caused quite a stir when he
said, “You have zero privacy anyway. Get over it” [1]. You can't deny that computers,
databases, and the Internet have made it easier than ever to get lots of information about
total strangers. Still, many of us would like to think that we can keep some things private.
Is it possible to maintain privacy in the Information Age?
NON SEQUITUR © 2005 Wiley Ink, Inc. Dist. By UNIVERSAL UCLICK.
Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
In this chapter we focus on privacy issues related to the introduction of information
technology. We begin by taking a philosophical look at privacy. What is privacy exactly?
Do we have a natural right to privacy in the same way that we have the right to property
and the right to liberty? What about our need to know enough about others so that we
can trust them? How do we handle conflicts between the right to privacy and the right
to free expression?
We then survey some of the ways that we leave an “electronic trail” of information
behind us as we go about our daily lives. Both private organizations and governments
construct databases documenting our activities.
Finally, we take a look at data mining, an important tool for building profiles of
individuals and communities. Companies use data mining to improve service and target
product marketing to the right consumers. Sometimes they push on the borders of
personal privacy a little too hard; we look at a few examples where companies have had
to retreat because of a consumer backlash.
