Privacy: Dignity vs. Liberty

News Literacy and privacy

1) As you consume information online, you have a right to understand how your privacy is protected (or not)

2) As a producer of information online, you have an obligation to understand how your identity is shaped by your actions

3) As an ethical member of the community, you have an obligation to respect the privacy of others

Types of privacy Information privacy Bodily privacy Privacy of communications Territorial privacy

Privacy International

Privacy a basic human right

Privacy is addressed by most of the world’s major religions

It’s been recognized in law for centuries (1361 England passed a law that provided for the arrest of peeping toms and eavesdroppers)

"The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the force of the Crown. It may be frail; its roof may shake; the wind may blow through it; the storms may enter; the rain may enter – but the King of England cannot enter; all his forces dare not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement.” (1763, William Pitt)

Right to privacy The U.S. Constitution does not have an

express right to privacy. However, privacy is implied in the First

Amendment (right to one’s own beliefs), Third Amendment (privacy of one’s home), Fourth Amendment (unreasonable searches), Fifth Amendment (protection from self-incrimination/private information)

Privacy from whom? Americans are generally more concerned

about privacy from government than from corporations.

Most Americans consider privacy a consumer-right that can be traded for more security, more convenience or cheaper prices.

Americans value the liberty to choose and publish freely.

Europeans Generally consider privacy a matter of

human dignity. They are willing to restrict some freedom in order to maintain personal privacy.

Many European laws restrict corporations from collecting private information far more than in the US, whereas some EU governments have far more authority in personal decisions than in the US

In the past Librarians kept patron records strictly private Movie theatres didn’t (and don’t) collect the

names and information of their customers Newspapers and magazines had no idea

which articles you read People used cash, which is completely

anonymous. People could use pay phones which are

anonymous.

Today Many of us are quite comfortable with

having corporations monitor what we read and watch, what we buy, our interests and hobbies, who our friends are.

We tolerate companies reading or scanning our email, airport security patting us down thoroughly or using x-ray technologies, tracking our every cash withdrawal, logging our every phone call, etc.

What media sells to advertisers

Media used to be subsidized by selling your attention to advertisers

Now, media (and many others) subsidizes revenue by selling your personal information to advertisers

Cookies Web sites use “cookies” to track users to

their sites. A cookie is small piece of code that stays on your computer so you don’t have to enter a password every time you visit, for example.

Advertisers use third-party cookies to develop strategies to target market users

How Internet Advertisers Use Cookies to Track You (WSJ series “What They Know”)

Facebook, Google, etc Scan keywords in individual profiles, gmail,

Web searches, etc. to enable advertisers to send targeted advertising of most interest to you.

Facebook’s default privacy settings are often confusing and set to maximum openness. Apps have recently been discovered to be collecting far more private information than advertised.

Your information habits are logged, tracked and sold for the purposes of selling you more stuff.

The government retains the right to track much of this information as well when it believes national security is at stake.

Google CEO’s comments on privacy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6e7wfDHzew&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpfa4sH4Dpk&feature=related

When you post information online

Do you consider what it says about your identity and reputation?

Do you consider how it might look to others in the future?

Do you consider how it might affect the privacy of anyone you mention, or post a photo or video of?

When you access information online

Do you consider how your habits are being tracked?

Do you examine the ads you’re getting to figure out what advertisers know about you?

Do you avoid certain sites because of what that might say about you?