Research Paper Example about Privacy

Privacy is dead and our data keeper holds the smoking gun. In general, we don’t have any problem protecting our privacy. If we don’t want company, we can seclude ourselves, ask to be excused, choose what we share, and who we want to share it with. However, it is not that simple when it comes to the digital world. It is almost impossible to have control over the collection of our personal information when we use devices or are closely monitored by cameras at school, work, and public places. ‘Privacy is no longer valued.’ Some agree while others oppose it, saying that even though it is difficult to handle it is worth protecting. Understanding the negative impact of losing privacy will require us to consider many factors. Consequently, there are more harms than goods, so it should be valued.

It's interesting when people say "phone is personal," because in the sight of phone carriers, that word ‘personal’ determines to whom the device belongs since the telephone is associated with one person. They also persuade us that our data is stored and not accessible to others by allowing us to create our own passwords. Let’s assume they’re right! However, who are the ones storing it for us and what do they do with it? Are they just good Samaritans or using it for other unknown purposes? “Digital dossiers about our lives and personalities are being assembled in distant databases, and they are being meticulously studied and analyzed to make judgments about us: What products are we likely to buy? Are we good credit risks? What price would we be willing to pay for certain items? How good a customer are we? Government agencies are mining this personal data, trying to determine whether a person might likely engage in criminal or terrorist activity in the future based on patterns of behavior, purposes, and interest.”(Daniel, 2008). This emphasizes that our data keeper records our every move , uses it and sells it to others with neither our knowledge nor consent. 

"You have zero privacy... Get over it." Scott McNealy, CEO of Sun Microsystems, argued. Get over it? Would we be able to at any point get over something that can harm us? Is it impossible to solve the problem? Or on the other hand do we need to give up on something we value for the sake of businesses as Sun Microsystems? Privacy isn't something we ought to compromise, its violation might have more negative impacts than we can imagine. Our personal data are being analyzed and used to make decisions on us without our permission. For example, the reward card can help department stores to decide what product to put on sale. Also The financial institution may try to piece our character together, since they know what purchase we make, what type of leisure we have. There is even a scarier aspect when our safety is jeopardized. Hackers can ruin people's credit, stalk them and even commit crime. “Those who process data should have an obligation to keep it secure and out of the hands of identity thieves and fraudsters. They should have an obligation to prevent data leaks. Innocent people are finding themselves on terrorist watch lists and with no resources to challenge their inclusion on the list.”(Daniel, 2008). “Cybercriminals and malevolent hackers use databases and the Internet to get information about their crimes. Stalkers and rapists have used the Internet and online databases to track down their victims.”(Jeroen, 2008). Moreover, people nowadays still value their privacy, but technology often overwhelms them to the point they ignore or even don’t realize something they do that can in return ruin them. “2,000 consumers recently surveyed by Deloitte, 91% said they agree to legal terms and conditions without reading them. That got the KSL Investigators wondering if anyone gives these agreements anything more than just a quick glance over. To find out, we set up shop at Daybreak’s Oquirrh Lake Park during the popular food truck night. We had no trouble finding people willing to go on camera – all they had to do was to agree to our Terms and Conditions.”(Tv, Ksl, 2019). As a result, getting over it as Scott says would do well to his business but not to us. 

Despite the negative effects of the collection and use of personal data, many people are aware of its positive outcomes. It ensures people's safety, tracks and arrests criminals, encourages government and businesses to improve themselves, and helps us to get the best possible service. “In the United Kingdom, millions of CCTV cameras monitor nearly every nook and cranny of public space. At work, many employers monitor nearly everything every call their employees make, every keystroke they type, every website they visit.”(Daniel, 2008). “Government agencies may want to have access to data about citizens to serve them better. In order to provide better services, they will have to know a good deal about them. Commercial parties want to be able to serve their customers or clients better. The more they know about them, the better they can fine-tune their propositions to their preferences and needs.”(Jeroen, 2008). Therefore, it is also important to consider the positive outcomes, but it is not a bad idea to raise people’s concerns. Many people have no problem with it or are even eager to volunteer their personal information.  

In this situation a better approach  to solve the problem would be to regulate the use of stored data. This would eliminate the use of ‘Adhesion Contract’ by applications, devices and websites. No option is given to the user other than to agree to their ‘terms and conditions’. It would also limit the violation of privacy by categorizing more and less sensitive datas. “The laws that ban the use of sensitive information (without requiring any action by the millions of affected citizens), the way medical, financial, and select other records are now protected, could be reinforced by banning PVT of protected areas. That is, the wall that separates more sensitive and less sent sensitive information could be  shored up.”(Amitai, 2012)  It may not solve the problem now (technology is quicker than legislation) but in the long term it will. We should be a part of our data management. When it comes to improving services, businesses and governments should let us know their purposes. “Those that use data about us should have the responsibility of notifying us about the data and how they plan to use it. People should have some say in how their information is used.” (Daniel, 2008). However, exceptions can be made when it comes to law enforcement tracking and arresting criminals as long as it's legally done.