QotW6: Privacy, Surveillance, Sousveillance

Definition of privacy

Concerns for privacy were first aroused by Warren and Brandeis, who published their fear of privacy violations through the use of cameras and photographs. They also sparked off further research in this area and their paper became a landmark in privacy research. Their initial definition of privacy was simple, defining privacy to be the “right to be left alone” (Warren and Brandeis, 1890). With technological advances, people come to realize a greater need for privacy. Most notably, with the influx of Internet and Information Technology (IT), information sharing is as easy as the click of a button, making privacy a more crucial problem that requires immediate attention. According to Thomas Mathiesen, in the age of the internet, we are experiencing something that might be called the 'Omnipticon' in which the many are watching the many, even though no one knows precisely who is watching or being watched at any given time.

Dealing with privacy

Let us just review our email inbox. How often do we receive email spam? How many times have we got to submit our personal particulars, bank account numbers or that we need to register ourselves first before getting access to what we want online? According to Giddens, we feel increasing pressure to expose details of our personal lives to strangers in order to win their trust, and we demand that they expose themselves in order to win our trust in return.

One of my experiences dealing with privacy online would be in chat rooms. We are bound to encounter users who asked for our pictures or even phone numbers even after seconds of knowing. So how do I negotiate my privacy? When I find a chat room or forum that matches my interest, I introduce myself with only as much information as I feel comfortable giving. I do not plaster my phone number, address, pictures or any other personal information on the site. Only after I have met someone with whom I truly "click" and have spoken to them for awhile that I have trust in giving in more personal information about myself. Overall, I feel common sense and that "gut feeling" are great indicators for when you feel your privacy is being violated.

As for offline privacy, what strike me first would be the private lives of public figures and celebrities. I feel that media should only watch and report on them if what they are doing is illegal and immoral or if it would affect the nation in a detrimental way. The media should leave alone issues that are private and personal to public figures and celebrities. After all, they are human beings just like us. We just wish to be on our own, unwatched and respected.

Citations

Rosen, J. (July, 2004). The Naked Crowd. Retrieved March 7, 2007, from
http://www.spiked-online.com/Printable/0000000CA5FF.htm

Federal Trade Commision. (2003). Privacy Online. Retrieved March 7, 2007, from
http://www.shopping-online-guide.com/Privacy%20Online.htm

Warren, S.D.,Brandeis, L.D. (1999). The Right to Privacy. Retrieved March 7, 2007, from http://www.lawrence.edu/fast/boardmaw/Privacy_brand_warr2.html