Privacy vs Security: A Global Debate Works Toward Balance
In the US, the debate between personal privacy (and perhaps liberties in general) versus security is a long-standing one with roots in the very founding of the nation itself. Folks interested in obtaining data often wonder how much people are willing to give up in the name of greater security or convenience. On the other hand, those more focussed on privacy worry about how data is obtained, what it’s used for and where it ends up.
On his blog, Concurring Opinions, Daniel Solove describes some of the issues at stake in the debate. In a paper on data-mining (available here) he’s presenting at a University of Chicago Law Review symposium, Solove argues that
“In the context of data mining, the liberty interest is limited by narrow understandings of privacy that neglect to account for many privacy problems. As a result, the balancing concludes with a victory in favor of the security interest” (hat-tip to PogoWasRight.org).
Essentially, that means that data-miners are yelling “Crisis!” and claiming that increased risk should give them access to greater amounts of personal data, and that gives most privacy advocates the heebie-jeebies. However, not everyone interested in acquiring data wants unfettered access to it. Put another way, some big players recognize the importance of privacy in data mining. “How big?” you ask. How about the European Union. Recently in the UK, Lord Wright of Richmond, chairman of the Lords EU sub-committee on home affairs, argued that sharing air-passenger data can be invaluable in fighting terrorism, but
“Their personal data must be used only for fighting terrorism and other equally serious crimes. It must be kept safely and not used for other purposes” (from a post on ePolitix.com).
In fact, the EU is trying to push US governments to remain mindful of the balance necessary between safety, privacy and security, and many American organizations (from the ACLU and EFF to conscientious technology companies and even our government) are actively trying to maintain that balance.
We want to know where our readers stand on the balance between privacy and security. Leave us a comment and let us know.
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