Impact
“My own conclusion is that it shortened the war by not less than two years and probably by four years … we wouldn't in fact have been able to do the Normandy Landings, even if we had left the Mediterranean aside, until at the earliest 1946, probably a bit later.”
-Sir Harry Hinsley
British Intelligence Historian
Blog 9: Privacy in an Open Digital World
Privacy has become a major topic of conversation in technology over the past decade. Between the push for ever-tighter security after the attacks on September 11th, 2001, and the revelations from Edward Snowden (and others) that massive amounts of data about ordinary people is being collected and analyzed each day, it is a topic that affects each and every one of us.
Many news outlets use the term "pendulum" when talking about the balance between security and privacy, since public opinion seems to swing back and forth between the two depending on recent events and personal beliefs. (Just search for "privacy pendulum" online to see what I mean.)
For this blog article, right about your personal viewpoint regarding security vs. privacy on the internet. For example:
- Is it better for us to have privacy at the expense of security, or to have security at the expense of privacy? Or are you ambivalent to the debate?
- Do you personally take any measures to guard your privacy online? Should others follow your advice?
- re there instances where you've found that having too much privacy or security has hindered your ability to do something online?
- Where do you think this debate will go in the future? Which way will the pendulum swing?
