The importance of privacy revisited |
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Authors: | Norman Mooradian |
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Institution: | (1) K.U.Leuven - Interdisciplinary Centre for Law & ICT - IBBT, Leuven, Belgium |
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Abstract: | James Rachels’ seminal paper “Why Privacy Is Important” (1975) remains one of the most influential statements on the topic. It offers a general theory that explains why privacy
is important in relation to mundane personal information and situations. According to the theory, privacy is important because
it allows us to selectively disclose personal information and to engage in behaviors appropriate to and necessary for creating
and maintaining diverse personal relationships. Without this control, it is implied, the diversity of relationships would
diminish; relationships would “flatten out”, we might say. The aspect of the paper that addresses information flows (what
I refer to as his information privacy theory) has been of particular interest to computer information privacy theorists. Despite
its continued importance to computer privacy theorists, however, the information privacy theory appears to be contradicted
by recent developments in computing. In particular, since the publication of Rachels’ paper we have seen an extensive amount
of personal information collected. Further, recent developments in computing falling under the heading of social computing
have brought about a new wave of personal information creation and collection. This paper will reassess and resituate Rachels’
information privacy theory in light of these developments. I will argue that the increasing collection of personal data will
not flatten relationships as the information privacy theory predicts because such data lack contextual factors important to
Rachels’ general theory. The paper will conclude by pointing to some areas where Rachels’ general theory and where his information
privacy theory will continue to be relevant. |
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