Cyber ethics: Morality and Law in Cyberspace | an Overview (opinion piece)

Information has become a commodity that can be collected, exchanged, and recombined with relative ease. Unprecedented levels of internet surveillance. Meant companies eager to buy our buying habits and search patterns.
Public seems ambivalent about privacy until collective conscious jarred by some startling new revelation. Employees privacy rights in peril.


A definition and theory of privacy
Harvard law review by Samuel Warren and Louis Brandeis in 1890 most basic and suggestive definition of non-intrusion.


Ruth Gavison seclusion theory
defines privacy as “limitation of others’ access to an individual with three key elements: secrecy, anonymity, and solitude. Anonymity refers to protection from unwanted attention; Solitude is lack of physical proximity to others; and secrecy outer anonymity involves limiting dissemination of information about one’s self. Known for being a restricted access theory.


Control theory
Protected if and ONLY IF one has control over information about oneself.


Restricted access
Privacy amounts to protecting information about oneself in certain contexts. U.S. Supreme Court defines as “control over information concerning his or her person.”
That’s why we employ the theory of least needed access.


Moor and Tavani Restricted access/limited control theory
Condition of privacy exists where capacity to shield information from some while sharing with others.
Individual has right to process if and ONLY IF individual normatively protected from intrusion, interference, and information access by others. Any state of affairs where restricted access is reasonably warranted. Critical distinction between naturally private (hermit in the woods) and normatively private (situation where privacy expected sick as Dr. office).
Need limited control over personal data. (Informed consent)


Primary moral foundation for privacy

1. Risk of extrinsic loss of freedom Because sensitive information can be used as a weapon against the person. Carrol Gould “privacy is a protection against unwanted imposition or coercion by others and thus a protection of one’s freedom of action.”
2. Risk of intrinsic loss of freedom. Anticipatory conformity to avoid judgement from observers.

Without privacy, we are more vulnerable to manipulation and control by others. We are more timid about pressure of our goals.


Personal information on the Internet
Just a quick search can reveal A LOT about a person.


Europe’s “right to be forgotten” policy forces search engines to remove particular results which I think is a good thing in cases such as when these OnlyFans models have children. Since we don’t have this in the USA, be careful what you put out there on the internet.


Privacy invasive technologies
Networking technologies information can be easily mobilized. (Data brokers)
Metro Mail-25 cents/ name for prospects. Keep records on 103 million people in USA
Acxiom Corp. builds digital records of people and buying habits to tailor suggestions to individuals based on probability to buy.


Cookies
Small data files that store website information for faster loading adding on subsequent return to website


Information Technology
Is much more powerful and intrusive than local gossip and essentially enables systematic infringement of  privacy rights that can have significant and long-lasting consequences. Process enhances corporate power and diminishes freedom of consumers.

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brenden nichols

Brenden Nichols is a traumatic brain injury survivor, coach, and corrective exercise specialist.  He's also an author and entrepreneur. He is an Eagle Scout and Evangelist who shares his story to uplift and inspire others.

He's helped dozens of veterans and parents with disabilities achieve a work/life balance perfect for them and their families! He may not be a father himself, at least not yet, but he has helped numerous parents achieve their perfect work/life balance and spend more time with their families without having to worry about money and getting stuck in an infinite loop!

He's been featured on a number of podcasts including The Elite where he was offered a media contract but turned it down to continue his work with veterans and parents with disabilities.