The Value of Digital Privacy in and Information Technology Age ...

1 . List and describe at least three (3) technologies that enable an individual to research citizens’ private data. A technology that allows an individual to research private data is the Global Positioning System (GPS).

This “is a course-plotting and precise-positioning tool” (Glasscoe, 1998) designed in the early on seventy’s by Department of Defense. Although GPS was originally created for the army, its applications have prolonged into the open public sector to supply researchers the actual location of an individual (Glasscoe, 1998). A malicious technology that can be used to research an individual’s private data can be spyware.

Generally speaking, it is application that can be crammed on an net ready system, such as a pc or smartphone, with the only purpose of gathering and transmitting one’s private data to another person. Spyware is definitely “designed being difficult to take away, ” plus the collection and transmission of information can be completed without the individual’s consent (Microsoft, 2012). Unlike spyware, social media services happen to be freely supplied with and individual’s private data. Social media services are web based programs built to aid communication between internet users. “When creating a merchant account user[s] reveal private information of their social associates and hobbies by which includes friends, business associates, and companies in their networks” (The White House, 2012).

Services such because “Facebook, the biggest social network service” (Halbert & Ingulli, 2012) can collect enormous amounts of private data that may be associated with an individual including: “written updates, photos, videos, and placement information” (The White Property, 2012). 2 . Discuss the huge benefits and disadvantages of public use of this information, both equally for the researchers and those who are being looked at. “Personal data is valuable …[and]… firms spend about $2 billion dollars a year to get that information” (SENGUPTA, 2012). Retailers make use of the data to advertising to consumers based upon their geographic location, personal demographics, or interests.

Every year personal info is used to create as much as $145 billion in online product sales (The White House, 2012). Personal information is normally shared freely in a mutually beneficial marriage between an individual and researchers. Those who are getting investigated might sign up for on the net services which usually deliver these people free content material, such as music or game titles.

Consumers are “pay[ing] for the service simply by agreeing to receive targeted ads” (Microsoft) via researchers. “Security failures involving personal info … can cause harm” (The White Home, 2012) to both the researcher, and those staying researched. If the researcher’s info is breached resulting in the discharge of private data the organization’s reputation could be tarnished. Subsequently there would be financial impacts towards the researcher while consumers and business companions sever their very own relationships.

Alternatively, those getting researched can be discriminated against due to misleading information or perhaps fall sufferer to “potentially life-disrupting id theft” (The White House, 2012). several. Determine what steps citizens usually takes to protect private data or data they do not desire to be disclosed. First and foremost, citizens should “carefully go through all disclosures, including the certificate agreement and privacy statement” (Microsoft, 2012) prior to getting any software, shareware, or perhaps freeware to their computer or smartphone.

Subsequently, they should correctly protect themselves utilizing current anti-virus software program and firewalls on their gadgets. Finally, individuals should be familiar with privacy-enhancing systems such as “Do Not Track” which enables individuals “to exercise a lot of control over how third parties employ personal data or whether they receive it at all” (The White-colored House, 2012). 4. Discuss a federal regulation that grants the federal government the legal right to create private information about U. T. citizens available to the public, and whether or not you agree with this law. Any person has the directly to request access to virtually every federally held record.

Enacted in 1966, The liberty of Information Take action (FOIA) is federal law which “provides public entry to all federal agency records aside from those documents … which have been protected coming from disclosure. ” Nine exemptions and 3 exclusions to the FOIA forbid the release info in relation, but is not limited to “information involving things of personal privacy” (U. H. Department of Justice, 2009). In the wake of Watergate Congress enacted the Privacy Act of 1974 to protect citizen’s private information in the face of growing concerns of “illegal surveillance and research of individuals by federal agencies” (“The personal privacy act, ” 2010).

This kind of federal regulation restricts disclosure of government organised records which will personally discover individuals, and increases an individual’s directly to obtain and amend authorities held information kept on themselves. The Level of privacy Act also establishes a code of “fair data practices which in turn requires agencies to comply with statutory rules for collection, maintenance, and dissemination of records” (“The privacy act, ” 2010). As Us citizens we “have always appreciated our privacy…[and]… we have the right to be let alone” (The White House, 2012). Much more than the right to solitude, Americans have the right to freely engage in commerce with no costly menace of personality theft.

You should be empowered with all the freedom to get employment or perhaps heath care without discrimination. Federal laws and regulations should scholarhip citizen’s peace of mind that our information that is personal it guarded, and we have got a choice concerning when and what helpings of our personal information made available to the public. 5. Decide whether you will discover “electronic privacy laws” that can prevent other folks from the ability to access “private information” as well as how effective they are. Laws protecting electronic level of privacy include “the 1968 Federal Wiretap Law, as changed by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act 1986 (ECPA), [which] make this illegal to intercept, disclose, or access messages with out authorization” (Halbert & Ingulli, 2012).

Much like the FOIA there are exemptions to the ECPA which eradicate “protection by communications which can be readily available to the general public” (Halbert & Ingulli, 2012) and current federal law may not protect most of an individual’s private data. As of 2012, forty-seven States possess Security Infringement Notification (SBN) laws. These laws change from state to mention, however they “promote the safety of very sensitive personal data” (The White-colored House, 2012) which is not at present protect simply by federal regulation.

In Feb . of 2012, the Federal government presented the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights to Congress. This Invoice of Rights attempts to ascertain a much required national base to protect citizen’s private information and acts “as a formula for privacy in the info age” (The White Property, 2012).

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