Article Summary.

Privacy Requires Security, Not Abstinence Summary

In Privacy Requires Security, Not Abstinence by Simson Garfinkel, Social Security numbers, e-mail addresses, and credit card numbers are addressed as being the targets of many hackers. When they are in the hands of the wrong person, they can destroy anyone’s identity and strip them of their privacy. Privacy as a whole is an issue today that is larger than ever before due to increasing technology, yet it is very important in that it protects us from all types of crimes, from stalking to spam. People who have been concerned about their identity and privacy have been advised to stay away from any mannerism that would put them at risk, such as listing personal information online. Everything from Social Security Numbers to Twitter account information should be protected. Yet, the precautionary habits advised do not fully protect anyone and are hard to maintain in today’s world. The main issue today is not that private information is available. The main issue is that the information is not being protected.

What privacy is can be defined in many ways. Samuel Warren and Louis Brandeis, two Boston lawyers in 1890, wrote an article in the Harvard Law Review stating that privacy is “the right to be let alone” and listed many ways in which that right was violated. “Being let alone” means protection from invasion, intrusion on private affairs, disclosure of private facts, and negatively or falsely publicized information about a person. The U.S. law respects the privacy of citizens, and all that it entitles; yet, the U.S. law has not been able to balance privacy rights and the upcoming technology at a speedy rate. Privacy protection from U.S. law comes slowly, but surely. Today, our privacy is mainly under attack by companies and corporations. The Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970 and the Code of Fair Information Practice help enforce and set up standards that companies, organizations, and businesses must abide by.

Computers have been helpful in managing consumer information, but with their arrival also came an easier way for consumer privacy to be violated. With easier access to information come more attacks on privacy rights. Online privacy attacks have been an increasing problem, and addressing them has become an ever more complicated issue. The Internet has allowed information to be at the fingertips of anyone in the world. All information can be accessed quickly and easily, unlike ever before. Congress passed the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act to help prevent the attack of younger citizens and the Federal Trade Commission passed the FTC Act of 1914 that prevents businesses from taking part in actions that are deceitful. Actions such as these are allowing for consumer privacy to be protected. The FCT Act forces companies to have “privacy policies” that tell consumers what is happening to their private information.

Everything today is stored on remote servers, and without government backing, extreme protection or an electronic identity system all citizens have access to, our privacy will always be at risk. The government is helping control and prevent attacks on consumers. With a combination of the government’s efforts and the consumer’s ability to control information about themselves and its whereabouts, our privacy may have a fighting chance in this ever-increasing world.

Works Cited

Garfinkel, S. (2009, July). Privacy Requires Security, Not Abstinence. Technology Review, 112(4), 64-71. Retrieved September 15, 2009, from Academic Search Complete database.