Information Age Has Created Privacy Problems for All Citizens

Privacy in the Information Age

Privacy has never been as problematic an issue as it has been as a result of the information age. Because of lightning fast developments in information systems and technology, the mere use of a password has long ceased to be sufficient to ensure privacy when using the computer. Similarly information systems are used for surveillance of citizens while on any expedition outside of their home, from shopping to vacations. A combination of satellite and computer technology thus creates a large amount of privacy problems rather than providing the security they are promoted for.

According to Hoffman and Carreiro (1997), the right to privacy entails the right to be left alone. This right includes the right to freedom from intrusive actions such as wiretapping, unnecessary surveillance and mail interception. In the information age this right has to be respected in terms of computer technology as well. Recently for example there has been a claim to the right to keep the history folder of Internet sites visited confidential.

The problem in this case is that the information age has spawned a very wide variety of privacy issues, which raise concerns in citizens. In order to deal with this problem, Hoffman and Carreiro (1997) suggest a more precise definition of privacy as concerns the Internet. The concepts of accountability and anonymity play a primary role in this definition. The decision to provide private information, argue the authors, lies with the Internet user. In online business transactions for example it is often the user's choice whether to give out personal information such as full names and telephone numbers. Credit card numbers are encrypted by the company, and secured in this way. Technology is thus sufficiently developed to allow the user a choice of the degree of privacy, and some do choose to provide more information than others. Whether this is enough, is questionable. Indeed, the user should be aware of the dangers involved in willingly submitting information to the Internet.

Electronic surveillance is one of the issues related to the privacy problem of the information age (Smith, 1994). Actions previously requiring a large amount of manpower and time, has been made far easier by technology. Records of any part of life, including credit card information, immigration records and telephone bills can be accessed within seconds. People's lives can then be monitored, illicitly or otherwise, without the persons in question being aware of it. This is all the result of information willingly submitted either directly to the Internet or to parties using Internet databases. This, according to Smith (1994), rather than communication interception, is the root of the privacy problem. This problem can be resolved by educating the public regarding their choices, and regarding methods of maintaining security.

The other side of this is however the fact that, there being a choice to remain anonymous, it is very difficult to demand accountability for activities that may be questionable, or even illegal. Examples of these are unsolicited e-mail, especially of a pornographic nature, and hacking into information without authority.

On the other hand, technology can serve as a tool for social accountability in the information age (Hoffman and Carreiro, 1997). Applications requiring proof of identity for example could be used to safeguard against unauthorized access. Further tools available for enhancing privacy and accountability in the information age include cryptography, firewalls and cookies.

Cryptography entails methods such as codes, letter and number substitutions. In Internet technology cryptography is used to encrypt user information such as credit card numbers and addresses. These are then only accessible to the user in question, who is authorized by means of a combined password and e-mail address. Firewalls allow authorization to a number of persons within an organization or group. Here large databases are protected from unauthorized use. Finally, "cookies" are records of a user's previous activity on the Internet with the purpose of serving the user in the future. In order to restrict abuse of this function, cookies can be enabled or disabled according to the user's preference (Hoffman and Carreiro, 1997). In this way the choice of privacy and level of service lies with the user, rather than the service provider.

Smith (1994) suggests further actions that can be taken against privacy rights abuses under the cover of information technology. One such option is the expression of public sentiment. When enough protests arise against any such abuse, it is likely that the abuse will be revised or terminated. Still, the responsibility of submitting or refusing personal information, and of self-education regarding the steps that can be taken to ensure privacy, lies with the user.