The Value of Digital Privacy in an Information Technology Age - Essay Example

This paper talks about the importance of digital privacy, and the various laws that affect it. It discusses about the advantages and disadvantages of the public access to an individual’s private information and the measures that citizens should take in order to protect their privacy in regard to information dissemination. This paper gives an example of a federal privacy law that allows the government an access to any private information of an individual. It also identifies electronic laws that protect people privacy, and their effectiveness. The three technologies that allow individuals to research on a person’s private information are (Keizer, 2012); Biometrics Cloud computing. RFID tags. The cloud computing technology involves a subscription based consumption of technological services. In this type of technology, the software and hardware systems of a computer system are delivered through the internet. This type of computer technology involves the design of a cloud that can enable a computer user to focus on what he or she is looking for. On this basis, the user does not need to worry about where the information he or she is looking for is stored (Keizer, 2012). This technology makes it easier for individuals to search and retrieve the information they are looking for in an easier manner. All a person needs to do is to click on the information he or she is looking for, and there it comes. Biometrics technology on the other hand involves the use of behavioral and intrinsic characteristics to identify an individual (Keizer, 2012). This type of technology involves the collection of DNA, fingerprints, iris, and other biological characteristics. These are then combined with the name, gender, social security number and date of birth of an individual. This information is then stored in software which has the capability of matching the contents contained to identify an individual. An algorithm is used to translate these match-points found in the database to a numeric value. Researchers will compare this numeric value, with the biometric input in the data, to either approve or deny the information they are seeking in regard to a specific individual (Keizer, 2012). Security officers can use this type of technology to spy on an individual without their knowledge, this if they use a geolocation tracking device such as a smartphone. Another technology is the RFID tags. This stands for radio frequency identification and it involves the use of electronic magnets for purposes of tracking and identification of objects attached to the RFID tags. These tags have the capability of storing information in an electronic manner, and these data are read by using magnetic fields. A researcher can access the information of an individual without his or her knowledge by use of these RFID tags (Keizer, 2012). This is because the tags can be implanted within individuals, and this increases the possibility of reading private information of an individual without their consent. The use of these tags has raised privacy concerns in United States of America. Having knowledge of such technology has its advantages and disadvantages. One advantage that the public has if they know this kind of information is that they will take measures of protecting their privacy. For instance, people won’t just provide their DNA details, names and addresses without confirming on why this type of information is required. This is in respect to the use of biometric technology in conducting a search for an individual. Another advantage is that the public would seek various measures of complaining to the authorities in case their privacy is breached. For instances, marketers can use the cloud computing technology to identify the consumption habits of individuals, and thereafter develop marketing programs that reflect their consumption habits. This usually involves perusing through the personal information of individuals without their consent. This practice is unethical, and needs to be condemned (Smith, 2013). Those being investigated would know how researchers can identify their private information, and thereby take precaution on the kind of information they make public. Information such as their names, place of birth, and place of residence should be kept private, for purposes of protecting their privacy (Smith, 2013). However, one disadvantage of the public having knowledge on the existence of such kind of technology is that they would be cautious in releasing certain information about themselves. For example, while engaging in social activity over the internet, people might give false information concerning them, undermining the reliability of the social interaction. It would also be difficult for researchers to find information they are investigating regarding a particular individual. For example, if investigators were looking for a terrorist, this person won’t provide accurate details about himself, thereby undermining the work of security agents. However, there are measures that citizens can undertake to protect their privacy. This includes failing to provide certain information they feel uncomfortable to share, and clicking on privacy buttons on social websites they engage in. This is possible because social websites have privacy policies that guide their use. Despite the efforts of an individual to make certain information private, the 2011 Sunset extension Patriots Act frustrates these efforts (Smith, 2013). The act allows the federal government to have an access to any kind of information that would help the government fight crime. According to the act, the federal government has the authority to monitor all the computer system used by suspected terrorists, and compels all banking institutions, telecom organization, and libraries to provide tangible information regarding a suspected terrorist. This should be done without their knowledge and consent. In my own opinion, this law is uncalled for, and a breach to the constitutional rights of individuals contained in the due process clause of the 14th amendment, which protects the right of privacy (Smith, 2013). This law also breaks the provisions contained in the fourth amendment of the American constitution, which guarantees the right of an individual against illegal searches and seizure. For instance, in Katz vs. United States (1967), the Supreme Court denoted that the use of technology in eavesdropping on an individual’s private communication amounts to an illegal search, and it is therefore unconstitutional. On this basis, the use of technology while conducting a search amounts to a breach of the fourth amendment of the American constitution. The court also denoted the fourth amendment protects an individual from a breach of his privacy (Keizer, 2012). On this basis, the Sunset patriot’s expectation act violates the fourth amendment of the American by allowing the use the use of technology to access the private information of suspected criminals. This act violates the principles set up by the judges in the Judges in the Katz vs. USA( 1967) against using technology to breach the privacy of an individual (Smith, 2013). Despite this law that allows a breach of an individual’s privacy, there is a federal law that protects the electronic privacy of an individual. For example the 2002 Information Management Security act protects the information of an individual from an unauthorized access, disclosure, and destruction (Smith, 2013). This act is effective in protecting the privacy of an individual because various government agencies monitor its implementation on a constant basis. For instance, the office of management and budget conducts an annual review on the effectiveness of the law in protecting an individual’s privacy. Where there is a weakness, the institution develops policies aimed at strengthening the law. Another law is the 1988 Video Privacy protection act. This law protects the right of a consumer of an electronic product, against unauthorized collection of his or her personal information. It prevents the disclosure of an individual’s records of video cassettes, and other audio materials. It provides a civil remedy of not less than 2500 dollars, if an individual breaches the law under consideration (Keizer, 2012). Various states in America have electronic laws that can also prevent other people from accessing an individual’s private information. For instance, in California, there is the reader’s privacy act, passed in 2011 (Smith, 2013). This law protects the privacy of an individual by prohibiting an electronic or print book service company from issuing the personal information of an individual, unless authorized by the courts. It also instills punitive measures against an individual found to have breached the law. This is in form of civil damages, and payment of numerous amount of fines. References: Keizer, G. (2012). Privacy. New York: Picador. Smith, R. E. (2013). Compilation of state and federal privacy laws (2013 ed.). Providence, RI: Privacy Journal. Read More