Privacy Threat in the Modern World
Privacy threat is one of the most pressing issues in the modern world. Many Americans are concerned with the recent development in cyber threats. What is more troubling is that sensitive government information and court cases are compromised due to breach of security. Technology has the ability to capture vast personal information. Security and surveillance cameras are also on the limelight as they invade the privacy of people. Notably, as people continue to wrestle the devastating issue, user control and transparency are aspects that endure to water privacy at the cost of enhancing security. However, some people argue that national security is more important than privacy. The opponents mention that people who do right things on the internet have nothing to hide. Therefore, privacy infringement helps to protect the nation from security threats such as terrorists and cybercrimes. Nevertheless, it is important to note that accessing people's personal information without their consent violates security rights. People have increasingly become dependent on technology. As such, advancement in technology come at the cost of privacy.
Technology is a Threat to Privacy
The internet reveals personal information and everything one has ever searched online. Attackers are able to tell where one is banking, goes to school or even works. Cookies and targeted advertising are a huge threat to an individual's privacy. Firms collect vast information about people in attempts to determine the buying behavior of a given consumer. The companies get the sensitive information through cookies and place the adverts on the web pages. The internet service providers do not have the right to track online movement as it translates to infringement of privacy rights. Despite the regulation, companies continue to track people's clicks on the internet because the browsing history gives the firms huge revenues stream. The companies compile the online movement and sell them to marketing companies. The companies also sell the information to government agencies such as police department when legally required. In an oppressive government regime, even innocent online activities could translate to huge issues.
Cloud Computing and Privacy
The aspect of cloud computing also presents privacy problems. The sites encompass instant messaging, email address and document services which do not have security features that work to protect personal confidential information. Electronic media data is so another source of concern with regard to privacy. Medical information is supposed to be private but fails to cover programs like Microsoft's HealthVault and Google Health. The issue raises the risk of breaching medical information. Public Wi-Fi denotes to be another privacy concern. The public Wi-Fi does not encrypt data, and this makes it vulnerable to hackers who can get access to personal information. In the era of data breaches, the internet service providers track people information even though they do not have the right to monitor the online movement. Pressreader explains that the internet should be able to provide measures such as "Do not track" to help control the personal information (Pressreader). People are giving away a lot of information on blogs and social media like Facebook twitter. The privacy problem is a price people that is paid for an enhanced social life. The software that allow access to phone calls, messages, emails, location, and other personal information infringe the rights of people.
Surveillance Cameras and Privacy
Privacy fundamentally breached through the surveillance cameras or the electronic eyes. Surveillance cameras in parking lots, stores, and other public places do not actually deter criminal activities but only invade people's privacy. When it comes to security, criminals can remove or distort the cameras and there contribution to is minimal. However, the CCTVs encroaches on a person's private life. For examples, in a workplace, companies place surveillance cameras to monitor the productivity of employees. The surveillance cameras do not work to stop criminals but rather invade privacy. Monitoring the activities of people every time creates a confidentiality problem. The surveillance cameras disturb private life, and this is against the law. Police body cameras have raised heated debates over privacy matters. The surveillance system infringes on the privacy rights of the third parties, the police, and the suspect. Body cameras record interactions and conversation. Moreover, the facial recognition technology records the identity of the parties involved which is termed to be a violation of privacy rights.
The Fourth Amendment and Privacy
The fourth amendment does not fully protect citizens on privacy issues. It does not have provisions for privacy protection against cookies and surveillance cameras. The amendment only protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Unreasonable search is the act where a law enforcement officer carries out a search without a probable cause or a search warrant. This is a violation of the fourth amendment. For this reason, police should not be allowed to enter homes of people and tap into their phone calls. Again, the airport security guards should not search the bags of travelers. Authorities use power when a person fails to agree, and a search warrant has been presented. The information gathered can make some companies be able to know whether somebody is anxious, overwhelmed or stressed. Bubar mentions that there are many apps which ask for access to personal information such as 'Data Crunchers' (Bubar). Google has got a range of products including YouTube, Chrome, Gmail, maps and the Android operating system which gather information on people. Google Home has the recording of everything people say to it. Collecting personal data denotes to be a big part of Facebook and Google along with other big tech companies which want to make money. Some companies pay Google and Facebook to place adverts on the web pages. Bubar asserts that Google made a revenue of $95 billion while Facebook made $40 billion through online advertisements (Bubar).
The Impact of Technology on Privacy
The amount of data tracked online has grown exponentially, and this is facilitated through the time people spend on the internet doing things such as shopping, texting, browsing, and surfing. Digital companies capture and store data. Thompson explicates that the tracking is an undesirable behavior as it leads to invasion of privacy (Thompson). Acquisti observes that in 2000 only a small promotion of the one billion pictures were uploaded online (Acquisti). The observation is unlike the reports reported in 2010 where 2.5 billion photos were upload and identified. Increasing the availability of facial data and cloud computing has vitally transformed the privacy dimension. In the Ted talk, Acquisti mentions that the current policies are ineffective in promoting privacy (Acquisti). He comments that electronic transactions should take place in privacy, people should browse the internet anonymously and privacy preserving data mining should be promoted (Acquisti). When buying cards in the retail stores, a person is required to give personal information which leaves behind history. Companies eventually use the data to determine the buying habits of specific people. Organizations know a lot of about people that they even infer to them the products they like.
Counter Argument
Despite privacy being a vital right, opponents argue that it does not matter. Piccolo reports that people who are criminals and carry out bad things on the internet are the only ones who have reasons to hide (Piccolo). The people will not fear that the government is monitoring them. People involving in terrorism and cybercrimes acts have concerns to conceal their data and identity. Piccolo elucidates that security should define the state of a nation being free from dangers or threats (Piccolo). Opponents contend that personal data of people should be accessed to determine if there are criminals who pose a threat to the country. The efforts to foster security is due to the ever increasing terror headlines and the political landscape which creates fear in people. Massive terrorist attacks occur and thus accessing what people do online will help to enhance security. The attempt will work to decline homicide and terrorist attacks. Piccolo even settles that "security matters more than privacy" (Piccolo). This means that security comes at the cost of privacy. However, the opponents have to understand that taking and using personal information without ones consent and knowledge is an odious abomination. Glenn stipulates that when privacy is uploaded, it prevents judgmental from other people (Glenn). According to Glenn psychological studies prove that if one knows that privacy has been breached or is being watched, his or her behaviors change dramatically (Glenn). Surveillance creates a prison in mind.
Conclusion
In the modern world, the state of privacy is a worldwide concern due to advancement in technology. Technology impacts on person's rights to privacy as it makes it easier for people to get personal information and manipulate the data to their advantage. Technology has vitally transformed lives and heavily impacted on privacy. Recent developments in technology threaten privacy and create a room for dire consequences due to access to personal information. Surveillance cameras and data clouding impact on privacy. The value of privacy has become a subject of controversy, and technological paradigm raises ethical trepidations which jeopardize individual's rights to privacy.
Works Cited
Acquisti Alessandro. What will a future without secrets look like? TedTalk. https://www.ted.com/talks/alessandro_acquisti_why_privacy_matters. 2011. Accessed October 10, 2018.
Bubar Joe. Does Facebook Know Too Much? Sep 3, 2018. https://upfront.scholastic.com/issues/2018-19/090318/does-facebook-know-too-much.html#1350L. Accessed October 10, 2018.
Glenn Greenwald. Why privacy matters. 2014. TedTalk. https://www.ted.com/talks/glenn_greenwald_why_privacy_matters#t-1113910. Accessed October 10, 2018.
Piccolo Luke. Why Privacy vs Security doesn’t matter. Sep 27, 2016. https://medium.com/@luke.piccolo/why-privacy-vs-security-doesnt-matter-dd499f183d0f. Accessed October 10, 2018.
Pressreader. Time to enact do not attack. December 12, 2011. http://www.pressreader.com/usa/usa-today-us-edition/20111212/289867344375669. Accessed October 10, 2018.
Thompson Nicholas. Bigger Brother: The Exponential Law of Privacy Loss. December 5, 2011. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/bigger-brother-the-exponential-law-of-privacy-loss. Accessed October 10, 2018.
