Abstract
Privacy is a complex multidimensional facet of human existence which is infused into many diverse aspects of our lives. Some suggest that an individual’s quest for privacy is an indication that he/she has in some way done wrong—that he/she has something to hide. However as discussed in this chapter, privacies are much more complex and are crucial in supporting liberty, individuality, creativity, democracy, and human dignity. Without privacies our lives would be profoundly impoverished and as a consequence developments which erode privacy must be considered with great caution. This is strongly reinforced by lessons from history and by way of example, we consider the impact of the Stasi on the population of the German Democratic Republic (Deutsche Demokratische Republik) from the early 1950s to 1990. Despite such warnings, in recent times digital technologies have been used in ways which negatively impact on privacy values and facilitate a technique widely practiced by the Stasi—gaslighting. Driving forces underpinning today’s privacy erosion include commercial and political interests together with frequently promoted claims that loss of privacy will lead to enhanced safety. Unfortunately any such claim is fundamentally flawed as it fails to take into account aspects of human nature. In this chapter we also consider End User Licence Agreements and the ways in which they are frequently designed to enable organisations to capitalise on the individual’s Internet-based activities.
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Notes
- 1.
Blundell, Q., ‘Collected Works’ (2020).
- 2.
‘Wer nichts zu verbergen hat, hat auch nichts zu befürchten’—‘Who has nothing to hide, has also nothing to fear’.
- 3.
In dealing with ongoing events of this nature, the author has removed specific reference to some of the countries and organisations concerned. They may of course be identified from the references cited.
- 4.
From Eggers, D., ‘The Circle’, (2013).
- 5.
Orwell (1949).
- 6.
Attributed to H. P. Lovecraft.
- 7.
In this latter respect, I recalled a previous university position. A large number of academic staff were recruited at the same time, and all had undergone a comprehensive medical prior to confirmation of appointment. During a visit to the HR department, new staff were very concerned to find that the completed medical forms were strewn across a junior administrator's desk (some were in fact scattered on the floor), such that they could be viewed by anybody passing by.
- 8.
Attributed to Janna Malamud Smith.
- 9.
John Brunner, ‘The Shockwave Rider’, (1974).
- 10.
Kafka (1925).
- 11.
In this subsection we use the term ‘information’ in a very general sense.
- 12.
In another university, even as highly qualified engineers, academic staff were not allowed to fit mains plugs, correct the time of wall mounted clocks or change faulty light bulbs. I learnt that restrictions in relation to clocks and personal office light bulbs were in place as these activities involved standing on a chair (with the risk of possibly falling off). Consequently when my office light bulb failed, I had to report the matter and some weeks later an outside contractor arrived to carry out the 20 second task. In the interim I had worked each day in semi-darkness.
- 13.
The name of the company has been removed.
- 14.
- 15.
Attributed to Albert Einstein (1879–1955).
- 16.
Attributed to Tom Stoppard. Quoted in Zimbardo (1973).
- 17.
This was a follow-up to a similar experimental trial conducted in 1953. These trials raise several ethical issues. For example, the boys (and their parents) were unaware that they were participating in an experimental trial. Furthermore those running the trials may have deliberately manipulated the behavior of the boys in order to obtain the desired results (see Sect. 3.6.3).
- 18.
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.
- 19.
Attributed to Rabindranath Tagore. Quoted in Zimbardo (1973).
- 20.
Interview with Edward Snowden: MacAskill and Hern (2018b).
- 21.
In this section and elsewhere in the book we refer to ‘security’ and ‘intelligence’ organisations. We use these terms loosely and interchangeably within the context of governmental organisations which focus on the national and/or international acquisition, processing and analysis of data pertaining to individuals (or organisations) for the stated intention of using such data to carry out activities purporting to thwart serious criminal activity and perceived international threats. We assume that such agencies have a degree of autonomy in their actions and are protected by broad rights to secrecy (privacies in modi operandi which include wide-ranging requirements for staff confidentiality). In practice the remit of such organizations often gradually increases with time. This is commonly referred to as ‘mission creep’.
- 22.
It appears that experimentation extended beyond the U.S. borders: ‘…Two projects of particular interest conducted as part of these experiments… involved the administration of LSD to unwitting subjects in Europe and the Far East.’ (Joint Hearing 1977)
- 23.
Attributed to Edward Snowden. Quoted in Chaitin (2018).
- 24.
Rogers et al. (1986), Volume 2: Appendix F ‘Personal Observations on Reliability of Shuttle’, by R. Feynman.
- 25.
Rogers et al. (1986), Volume 2: Appendix F ‘Personal Observations on Reliability of Shuttle’, by R. Feynman.
- 26.
Volume 2: Appendix F ‘Personal Observations on Reliability of Shuttle’.
- 27.
Rogers et al. (1986) Volume 2: Appendix F ‘Personal Observations on Reliability of Shuttle’ by R. Feynman.
- 28.
Unattributed.
- 29.
This may also be the case with the interview panel who may over-exaggerate interesting aspects of the role and career enhancement opportunities which will (perhaps) be provided.
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Blundell, B.G. (2020). Privacy: An Outdated Concept?. In: Ethics in Computing, Science, and Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27126-8_3
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