INSY 440: Post 8: Yes! Privacy Matters!

Since our topic tonight is privacy, let us observe some widely accepted privacy definitions:

"Privacy (from Latin: privatus "separated from the rest, deprived of something, esp. office, participation in the government", from privo "to deprive") is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby express themselves selectively.`` (Wikipedia)

"A state in which one is not observed or disturbed by other people" (Oxford Dictionaries)

"the state of being private; retirement or seclusion.

the state of being free from intrusion or disturbance in one's private life or affairs: the right toprivacy" (Dictionary.com)

In the stone age, privacy was generally not a main issue. As we are told, people barely had clothes to cover themselves. 

As society progressed and became more humane, privacy became more about private property, guarding ones own material possessions, and yadda yadda yadda. 

However, today privacy has totally changed thanks to the internet. 

Certain governments are taking this issue heads on and shaking the private sector with the issue of online privacy, while the NSA (this acronym may stand for the "National Security Board," but I may or may not be referring to thereof :) ) is heavy a party with by "accessing" sensitive and confidential information (I don't think I need to reference this point)!

Regardless, (especially on-line) privacy has become an important issue. Now, today, no one is safe on the internet. 

Food for thought: Yes your IP addressing may be bouncing off various locations in the world, but is the company that is helping you do that not in bed with some covert intelligence agency? 

References and Interesting Links:

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/privacy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy
http://www.priv.gc.ca/resource/fs-fi/02_05_d_15_e.asp