Rethinking Privacy in an age of Disclosure and Sharing

Speakers: Peter Barron; Cory Doctorow; Dr Norman Lewis; Anna Minton
Chair: Claire Fox

The increasing reach of information technology into all areas of life, from social networking websites to data sharing in public services, has thrown up a number of questions about privacy. Information about our medical records, financial circumstances and shopping habits is increasingly likely to be stored in electronic media that are out of our control. Some critics worry more about Tescos data-gathering than any surveillance state. The controversy about Google Maps Street View function, which captured thousands of unwitting people walking or standing on the streets, is a reminder that new technology constantly raises new questions about our privacy. So how worried should we be? Does the convenience of easily accessed information outweigh the danger of abuse? How are our conceptions of privacy changing? And following the success of the Pirate Party in Sweden, can we expect privacy to move up the political agenda in the UK too.

These concerns focus on technological development, but arguably there has been a broader cultural transformation, whereby we are loosening up about what we consider private. From school to the workplace, we are constantly encouraged to discuss our feelings, while public figures in politics as well as showbiz seem ever-anxious not only to be transparent about their work, but to reveal intimate details of their private lives. Some argue we are seeing a fundamental shift in attitudes to privacy, with a whole new generation growing up at ease with sharing pictures and information about themselves online with loosely-defined friends. Meanwhile, we are increasingly suspicious of goings-on behind closed doors, and the demand for privacy often seems a cranky hang-up of those with something to hide. In this context, what does it mean to insist on a right to privacy? Should we look to privacy laws to protect those who are less keen on sharing all? Where is the line between public and private today? Do we need to redraw this line and why is this so politically important?

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• 2009
• battle
• ideas
• institute
• politics
• debate
• privacy
• data
• piracy
• copyright
• freedom
• technology
• private
• public
• doctorow

[EEAify]

I loved the speaker who open the discussion about the false argument of security. After the attack in Norway on the 22nd July this year. The reality is that no security service in the world can ever be so efficient to be able to guess what each and every person plans to do and this is even more true when we speak about sick people. In the meanwhile the resources allocated to this type of health care is constantly reduced. My conclusion is that the security instrument is not serving its purpose.

[EEAify]

First I want to say that serious entries here on Youtube have less views and that alone says a lot about the contemporary world. For a strange reason I had lately a lot of discussions about the "society" contract, the contract signed with the society by the individual in order to obtain better personal security against a limited/controlled degree of individual freedom. This contract should be revised time to time:)-

[leoZovic]

Fanciful introductions and prompted clapping ends at 5:37

[gotilk]

We need to seriously re-examine the USE of data acquired in the public sphere and stop treating the USE of online, public yet PERSONAL data differently than we'd treat someone who followed us home and reported back which bar we went to after work. Just because the TOOLS for stalking have improved does not mean we should allow certain uses of data just because the data is easier to get at. See: Employers googling applicants, etc.

[gotilk]

Let me make it easy. Sharing is what we want to show you. Disclosure is what needs to be shown in order to maintain integrity and privacy is none of your goddamn business.