Why Privacy Matters - 2748 Words

Why Privacy Matters: Debunking the Nothing-to-Hide Argument In today’s society, the word â€Å"privacy† has become ubiquitous. We see it every day; on HIPAA forms, social networking sites, online transactions, et cetera. In his essay, â€Å"Why Privacy Matters Even if You Have ‘Nothing to Hide’†, published in May of 2011, Professor Daniel J. Solove argues that the issue of privacy affects more than just individuals hiding a wrong. Solove jumps right into his dissection of the â€Å"I’ve got nothing to hide† argument, which is so often mentioned in discussions regarding the government’s gathering and analysis of our personal information. He explains how this argument stems from an inadequate definition of what privacy is and the value that privacy†¦show more content†¦All one has to do is look hard enough to find what it is.† (para. 6) These quotations enable Solove to identify with the audience and speak to his credibility and trustworthiness. Solove further establishes his ethos through demonstrating his scholarly credit and portraying his expertise into the historical and international discourses regarding privacy concerns. In an effort to expand the audience to include international communities, Solove explains how privacy concerns are not just associated with the American government, but are an international topic of debate. He describes how the British government installed millions of cameras throughout cities in Britain and then declared, â€Å"if you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ve got nothing to fear.† (para. 3) In addition to appealing to a broader audience, Solove successfully portrays his scholarly credit with the historical discourse of privacy by citing historical works of literature; such as, Nineteen Eighty-Four, written by George Orwell, and The Trial, written by Franz Kafka. By acknowledging these historically famous books concerning the issues of government surveillance and data collecting, it is established that the discussion of privacy rights has previously been a topic of debate. This informs the audience that the rhetorical discourse regarding privacy rights isShow MoreRelatedWhy Privacy Matters So If You Have Nothing?935 Words   |  4 PagesIn support of privacy, Daniel J. Solove wrote, Why Privacy Matters Even If You Have ‘Nothing to Hide.’ Solove begins his argument by introducing the nothing-to-hide argument. In general, the argument for surveillance is ‘if you’ve got nothing to hide, you’ve got nothing to fear:’ hence people’s support for government efforts and regulations to ‘protect’ citizens by decreasing privacy. Those who object this argument target its most extreme cases. For example, if you have nothing to hide, could I takeRead MoreWhy Privacy Matters So If You Have Nothing?1291 Words   |  6 PagesPrivacy Matters Imagine someone living in a country that turns surveillance equipment on its own citizens to monitor their locations, behavior, and phone calls. Probably no one is willing to live in such place where privacy is being undermined by the authorities. For people living in the U.S., their private information has been more vulnerable than ever before because the government is able to use various kinds of surveillance equipment and technology to monitor and analyze their activities, conversationsRead MoreFinding Clarity In The Obscurity Of â€Å"Why Privacy Matters†.1283 Words   |  6 PagesFinding clarity in the obscurity of â€Å"Why Privacy Matters† In his essay â€Å"Why Privacy Matters† from The Wilson Quarterly, Jeffrey Rosen offers a compelling account of the harmful effects of eradicating our privacy. Rosen ventures into several different fields affected by the ever-growing intrusion of our privacy, offering a rich compendium of illustrations from the real world. From Monica Lewinsky’s fate under her investigation, to a Charles Schwab employee, Rosen offers a prolific arsenal of incidentsRead MoreFourth Amendment Protections And Denials1299 Words   |  6 PagesDenials Privacy is very important to some citizens, especially privacy in regards to personal and family matters. No one wants someone following and observing their every move, they also do not always enjoy the outside input of people who do not know their whole situations. The Fourth Amendment in the Constitution â€Å"protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government† (What Does the Fourth Amendment Mean?). This has provided citizens with a way to protect their privacy and prohibitsRead MoreLack Of Privacy On The Internet1404 Words   |  6 PagesThere seems to be no legal issue today that cuts so wide a swath through conflicts confronting American society like privacy. From AIDS tests to wiretaps, polygraph tests to computerized data bases, the common denominator has been whether the right to privacy outweighs other concerns of society. And with more and more people using the Internet, more and more information being passed over the Internet, more proble ms arise. The Internet has been an advantage in technology that has greatly increasedRead MoreThe Right Of Privacy And Privacy1554 Words   |  7 PagesDo you believe the Board of Education violated her right to privacy? Were they justified in firing her? Explain two to three (2-3) major reasons why or why not. The right to privacy is a right that gives people the ability to control all the things that are a part of us. These include one’s identity, our body, thoughts, feelings, secrets, homes and property. The right to privacy gives people the ability to choose what can be accessed by others, while controlling the extent, timing and the use ofRead MorePrivacy Violations Within Our Gadgets689 Words   |  3 Pagesprivate property we trusted in our gadgets. While it is understandable that tracking is needed to ensure safety, public should not be the new privacy. Privacy, the state of being free from public attention. Public, open or shared to all people. Two distinct meanings joined together by a violation of a single right – the right of privacy. Based on the book Privacy by Garett Keizer, Verizon receives 90,000 demands for information from law enforcements agencies every year, and National Security AgencyRead MorePatients Rights And Rights1192 Words   |  5 Pages3 Defining Patients’ Rights 4 Accessing PHI – A Patients’ Rights 5 Exceptions to Access – A Patients’ Right 6 Amend PHI - A Patient’s Right 7 Patients Privacy Importance 8 Conclusion 8 Introduction – Patients’ Rights in H.I.M As a patient, you have rights. The right to ask questions, the right for your privacy, the list goes on. Commonly, most patients do not become aware of certain rights they have until they are put into a specific situation. This is usually when he orRead More Online Privacy at What Cost Essay1491 Words   |  6 PagesOnline Privacy at What Cost When the constitution was written over two hundred years ago, our founding fathers probably did not have the Internet in mind. Since then, United States citizen along with their elected officials have tried to keep the rights of each American sacred, no matter what the cost. The major right that has been fought over since the dawn of the USA, has been that of the freedom of speech. Now, with the beginning of the twenty-first century, a new freedom of speech is againRead MoreThe Differences Between Phone Records And The 1970 And Smartphones, Privacy And How Courts Affect The Technology874 Words   |  4 PagesThese records are often used by law enforcers to investigate crimes by gathering information from phone records. Since 1970 many things has changed. This paper examines the technological differences between phone records in the 1970 and smartphones, privacy and how courts affect the technology. In past law enforcers could pull phone information without probable cause which means telecommunications industry used to be more cooperative with law enforcement. But now there have been many changes. Knutson