Interview
Interview
1. Define the word privacy.
Privacy means the absence of interference in any phase of life whatsoever.
2. Are you aware that many Internet sites record your activity?
Despite the assurances provided that they do not track our activity, yes I am aware that our activities are tracked.
3. How concerned are you about security on the Internet? Please explain.
In this world, obviously you cannot abandon the internet. It is more of an obligation now. However, I try to secure myself as much as possible. For example, I don’t allow location tracking on my phone. So while I am very concerned, I still have to avail this facility.
4. Do you consider sites are recording your Internet activity with your knowledge to be a violation of privacy? Please explain.
The sites that explicitly declare that they record our activity are basically signing a contract with us in which we allow them to invade our privacy. So while it is an invasion, it is not a violation because it has been allowed.
5. Do you consider sites are recording your Internet activity without your knowledge to be a violation of privacy? Please explain.
That is definitely a violation of privacy because we have not explicitly told them that we are fine with it.
6. Are you concerned about your personal information being transmitted over the Internet? Please explain why?
I am definitely concerned because every now and then, we hear about identity thefts. Given the current scenario where terrorism is on the rise, I am very worried about the consequences.
7. Do you believe that the Federal Government should implement laws dealing with how companies can use your personal information? Please explain by listing at least two things that should be included in the law.
The Federal Government should lay down stringent laws. The laws should incorporate the need to obtain permission from the Federal Government regarding this policy. The application for permission should state the reasons why the information is needed. Secondly, the companies should be made to sign an undertaking that if they use the personal information other than the intended purpose, they shall be punished as per the law.
8. Who do you believe should be held responsible if your personal information can be found on the Internet? Please explain.
Obviously, the concept of fairness says that the person who is most likely to have shared the information should be made liable. However, this is merely based on suspicion, and this is the reason why internet security is so hard to guarantee.
Second Adult:
1. Define the word privacy.
Privacy refers to no unethical intervention. While intervention is almost always unethical, it can be made ethical for example by prior information or the like. Privacy I believe is the most fundamental right of humans.
2. Are you aware that many Internet sites record your activity?
Yes, some websites clearly tell us that they are going to record our location and activity. The web browser gives a signal. It sometimes also asks for permission. For example, if you download applications on an Android phone, it lets you know what information it will be accessing while we use the application.
3. How concerned are you about security on the Internet? Please explain.
I am concerned about security only when it comes to the concept of identity or money. For example, credit card payments over the internet are one aspect of internet security that I really worry about in daily life. Other than that, interventions that may lead to identity theft also scare me.
4. Do you consider sites are recording your Internet activity with your knowledge to be a violation of privacy? Please explain.
Clearly it is not a violation if you already know about it. The concept of implied consent comes in. If the website is telling you that we are tracking your location, and you continue to use that website, you have given an implied consent and therefore, it is hard to call it a violation, even if you consider it disturbing.
5. Do you consider sites recording your Internet activity without your knowledge to be a violation of privacy? Please explain.
Now that is a perfect example of violation of privacy. We have not accepted a clause that says that they will access our information. Therefore, we are bound to consider unethical and completely unacceptable. I did not even know that websites do that!
6. Are you concerned about your personal information being transmitted over the Internet? Please explain why?
Personal information being transmitted over the internet is susceptible to hacking and other malpractices. It is also not something that happens in the outside world. Rather, no one is secure. If the website of BBC can be hacked, then absolutely everything transmitted over the internet is insecure. So I really am concerned about my personal information being floated, also because the internet is one of the best mediums to make any information public.
7. Do you believe that the Federal Government should implement laws dealing with how companies can use your personal information? Please explain by listing, at least, two things that should be included in the law.
It is not what I believe; it is the Federal Government’s duty. After all, aren’t they support to provide protection to people? Moreover, terrorism is proliferating today. Wrong people can be caught in a mess just because of identity thefts. So I believe that the Government should take a step as soon as possible to do whatever it can to stop the unethical use of information.
For this purpose, the law should include a provision that makes it necessary for all such companies to obtain a license to take information and further, to use it or keep it for a specified period. Also, any violation of the license should be punished with imprisonment or the like to deter any unethical practices.
8. Who do you believe should be held responsible if your personal information can be found on the Internet? Please explain.
While laws may help to reduce unethical activities, I don’t think it can help to completely eliminate them. Internet security protocols are being revised every day to make sure hackers don’t get personal information or access databases. However, hackers continue to amaze the security-builders by their determination to break all encryptions or security measures. Therefore, I think there is no one in particular that can be held responsible. However, everyone including the government has to do their part.
