Protecting Information Privacy in the Internet Age
Protecting Information Privacy in the Internet Age
Wang Shanshan
PRE-SESSIONAL COURSE
July 2013
The Language Centre
EFL Unit
University of Glasgow
1. Introduction
Advances in information technology enable the Internet now to be widely used as an effective and inexpensive tool to gather personal information. However, the collection and subsequent use of individuals’ information have inevitably triggered intense debate about information privacy and security. A survey on information privacy found that about 25% of Americans consider themselves threatened by invasion of their information privacy (Business Week 2000). Therefore, this article aims to analyze the issue of protecting information privacy in three ways. It will first introduce the concept of information privacy and then explore several ways in which users’ privacy might be violated. Three possible solutions to address privacy issues will be discussed at the end. 2. Defining Information Privacy
Information privacy is a subset of the concept of privacy, which has been explored and discussed since the advent of the Internet technologies. Clarke (1999) concludes that privacy is often thought of as a moral right or a legal right to be let alone. From this perspective, information privacy can be described as one’s ability to control information about oneself (Westin, 1967). If an individual cannot maintain a substantial degree of influence over their personal information and its usage, invasions of privacy would occur (Lim, 2000). 3. Privacy Threats From the Internet
3.1 Social networks
Social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, are online services that allow users to share information and interact with one another. According to an online usage report conducted in 2009 by Nielsen, approximately 70% of internet users are posting information, often including photos, about themselves on social networking sites. While social networks indeed serves as a convenient tool to integrate
Wang Shanshan
PRE-SESSIONAL COURSE
July 2013
The Language Centre
EFL Unit
University of Glasgow
1. Introduction
Advances in information technology enable the Internet now to be widely used as an effective and inexpensive tool to gather personal information. However, the collection and subsequent use of individuals’ information have inevitably triggered intense debate about information privacy and security. A survey on information privacy found that about 25% of Americans consider themselves threatened by invasion of their information privacy (Business Week 2000). Therefore, this article aims to analyze the issue of protecting information privacy in three ways. It will first introduce the concept of information privacy and then explore several ways in which users’ privacy might be violated. Three possible solutions to address privacy issues will be discussed at the end. 2. Defining Information Privacy
Information privacy is a subset of the concept of privacy, which has been explored and discussed since the advent of the Internet technologies. Clarke (1999) concludes that privacy is often thought of as a moral right or a legal right to be let alone. From this perspective, information privacy can be described as one’s ability to control information about oneself (Westin, 1967). If an individual cannot maintain a substantial degree of influence over their personal information and its usage, invasions of privacy would occur (Lim, 2000). 3. Privacy Threats From the Internet
3.1 Social networks
Social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, are online services that allow users to share information and interact with one another. According to an online usage report conducted in 2009 by Nielsen, approximately 70% of internet users are posting information, often including photos, about themselves on social networking sites. While social networks indeed serves as a convenient tool to integrate
References: Anstead, M. (2000, April 13). Taking a tough line on privacy. Marketing. Lim, E. (2000). Electronic Commerce and the Law. Bcom (Hons) Dissertation, MSIS, University of Auckland. Slane, B. (2000). Killing the Goose? Information Privacy Issues on the Web. Retrieved from http://www.privacy.org.nz/media/Killgoos.html. W. Chung, & J. Paynter . (2002, January). Privacy Issues on the Internet. Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, 35, p. 193.