source: browertech.wordpress.comThe capability for individuals to interact online without giving-up their personal privacy is a crucial element of the Internet's value, and is strongly related to its trustworthiness. It is about keeping the capability to disclose data consensually, and with expectations about the context and scope of sharing. The privacy implications of the current Internet represent a significant and growing concern.
Internet privacy involves the right or mandate of personal privacy concerning the storing, repurposing, providing to third-parties, and displaying of information pertaining to oneself via the Internet. Having this in mind data protection laws cover the principle that individuals should have control over their personal information. Many of the worldwide laws for the protection of privacy have various objectives, from attempt to remedy past injustices under authoritarian regimes, to promote electronic commerce, and enable global trade. Effective laws governing the collection and handling of personal information could help minimize monitoring by governments, regulate surveillance by companies and ensure that personal information is properly protected (Privacy International).
Internet privacy covers many areas, and some of the most important are:
- Children's Online Privacy: The interactive nature of the Internet enabled marketers to collect personal information from children through their registration to chat rooms and discussion boards, to track behavior of web surfers through advertisements, and to promise gifts in exchange for personal information
- Social Networking Privacy: Social networking Web sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and LinkedIn have become established forums for keeping in contact with old acquaintances and meeting new ones, for sharing personal information, and for establishing mobile communication capabilities.
- Cybersecurity Privacy: Privacy interest in cybersecurity involves establishing protocols and effective oversight regarding when, why, and how government agencies may gain access to personal information that is collected, retained, used, or shared.
- Data Protection: The European Convention on Human Rights and Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union expressly recognizes the fundamental right to the protection of personal data. For several years, law enforcement agencies in various countries have urged the adoption of "data retention" requirements, which would compel communications service providers to routinely capture and archive information detailing the telephone calls, e-mail messages and other communications of their users.
- Communications Surveillance: Interception and monitoring of individuals' communications is becoming more widespread, more indiscriminate and more invasive, just as our reliance on electronic communications increases.
- Cloud Computing: Cloud computing refers to data, processing power, or software stored on remote servers made accessible by the Internet as opposed to one's own computers. The emergence of cloud computing services is structured around a re-imagining of the relationship between technology and end users. The end user must rely on the cloud computing service provider to ensure that data is kept secure and reliably accessible.
This discussion is aiming to build upon existing practice by identifying both positive and negative experiences of internet privacy as well to propose decision-makers (politicians & government) how they should produce future laws regulating privacy issues.
Thus, the discussion starting questions are:
- Which aspects of internet privacy you consider positive and which aspects are discouraging you?
- Which challenges you see in the future for internet privacy?
- To which extent would you give up your privacy in order to feel more secure?
- If you were a decision-maker, for which area of internet privacy would you construct new laws?
- Can self-regulation successfully address privacy concerns? Would you feel more secure if privacy is regulated by governments?
Time frame: Discussion will end on 17th of February 2013. The summary results of discussion will be submitted to decision makers as well presented at the ACTA conference in Maribor (Slovenia) in March 2013.
Privacy statement: No e-mail registration is needed to participate (unless you would like to receive updates about new contributions). Contributions can be posted by either a real name or anonymously. No personal data will be included into discussion report provided by facilitator.
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