Online Privacy

Twenty years ago it was practically impossible to get information about someone if they were not either in direct contact with you or located in the phone book. It was strenuous and difficult work to try and sort out information found in public records and most of the time people just didn’t bother. However, in this modern age of new technology and social networking privacy is nonexistent. If you choose to partake in the Internet you simply cannot expect your information to remain private.

Most people do not realize that they are undermining their right to privacy every time they update their Facebook status or Tweet their latest activity. In fact, this generation of social gurus have very little claim to privacy at all. For most people the only thing that can be classified as ‘private’ is medical information and even that is dwindling. The truth is anything you post on the Internet is fair game for any other Internet user to read-there is no privacy.

Ultimately, we are doing this to ourselves. People don’t know about their personal Internet settings or signs of security to look for when online.

Many people are concerned about shopping online because of the privacy issues. While https sites are considered secure, you still are willing giving up your information to a company that could in turn sell that to a marketing or advertising research firm.

You may be wondering is privacy dead? Absolutely not, but it is certainly undergoing a lot of changes and has become a very confusing subject. We must understand that once we willingly post information online it is no longer private. We only have a right to privacy that is reasonably expected. If we post every aspect of our life and our daily activities we cannot legitimately expect to enjoy a right to privacy.

However, there is hope for change. According to an article from InternetNews.com, Tuesday March 30, 2010 the Digital Due Process coalition, including Google, Microsoft, AT&T and many other firms and advocacy groups, is demanding an update to the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Their goal is to convince lawmakers that the online information deserves “the same judicial safeguards as records locked in a filing cabinet.”

Many organizations are trying to increase privacy not only politically but educationally as well. If the public is informed on their rights and the proper behavior for the Internet then there is hope for a better and more protected technological future.