Digital Privacy
On this page, you will discuss why privacy is good to protect, identify threats to your privacy, and consider reasons you might choose to give up privacy.
If you post a picture of you and your friends to a website, you are making information public about where you were and what you were doing, which may violate both your own privacy and that of your friends. Also, if your phone is lost or stolen, someone else might get access to pictures you thought were private. That's why data on cell phones is normally encrypted so that it can't be recovered without your password. Having to type your password is a trade-off between convenience and security.
If you post a picture of you and your friends to a website, you are making information public about where you were and what you were doing, which may violate both your own privacy and that of your friends. Also, if your phone is lost or stolen, someone else might get access to pictures you thought were private. That's why data on cell phones is normally encrypted so that it can't be recovered without your password. Having to type your password is a trade-off between convenience and security.
- Discuss: What kind of digital information is out there about you?
- With a partner, write down a list of the kinds of information someone might be able to find out about you by searching on the Internet.
- Which of these things are information that you voluntarily put online?
- Which of these things would you prefer to keep private?
- Discuss: What are some reasons for protecting your privacy? Why is privacy a good thing?
Here are a few of many reasons for protecting privacy:- Avoid discrimination (e.g., based on HIV status)
- Allow anonymous political speech
- Protect personal security (e.g., against stalkers)
- Restrain exercise of state power (e.g., require warrants)
- Prevent spread of incorrect information
- Part of human dignity
- Discuss: Who is threatening your privacy?
Describe how each of the following threatens privacy:- Governments
- Corporations
- People with cellphone cameras
- Discuss: What are some reasons for giving up privacy in certain areas?
Identify one area in your life in which you purposely give up privacy. What are the risks? Why have you decided that the benefits outweigh the risks?
Here are a few reasons people give up privacy:- You gain convenience from tailored ads and location services.
- People today care more about online friendships.
- Governments need to protect us against bad guys.
- Businesses must verify eligibility (e.g., credit scores).
- "If I'm doing nothing wrong, I have nothing to hide."
- Discuss: What are different ways our privacy is affected by computers? How are various innovations beneficial and how do they threaten privacy.