Personhood may be defined as a state of being a person, a human with emotions, characteristics and values. Unlike the computer, a person experiences emotion, shows vulnerability and adaptability and possess sufficient mental capacities. The definition of personhood may change its meaning according to the context in which it is spoken. According to religion, personhood may be defined not just as an alive human being with feelings and emotions, but a person who is virtuous and who carves a niche in the lives of others. A bioethicist may define personhood as a person who is alive. A person who is in a coma and on complete life support may not be considered a person by him, thus making the person eligible for multiple organ donation or euthanasia.
Technology gives a totally new meaning to personhood. Artificial Intelligence (AI), a new concept of modern technology, may be defined as a state of a person, the way it acts and reacts like a human being. Innovative technologies have made AIs possible. Data organization and their varied applications play a vital role in such innovations. Information is the need of the hour. The need of people to access vast amounts of data and information in almost every walk of life, has given a great boost to information technology. But these vast avenues come with strings attached. Ubiquitous information means ubiquitous offenders. These offenders are comprised of frauds, thefts and unwanted interventions that lead to an insecure database. This may also lead to theft of identity. It may affect personhood; in precise terms, digital personhood. Thus data protection is a key factor in e-presence.
In the digital world, a person may have several profiles and other people view him in whatsoever profile he wishes to portray. Unlike the real profile, where a person may have only one identity, this may mean a dangerous thing in the digital world. A person is said to exist in the digital world only when he is acknowledged or recognized. Identity Management (IDM) aims at authenticating identity of people by asserting them with their memory. Identification through this technique is determined by profiles and performance on the web rather than by personhood. Insecure databases and limited user control can easily allow hackers and phishing sites to access personal information and thus alter profiles and the way people react to such changes. Thus a tampered profile may cause a great change in the stance of any person which affects personhood. It is to say that online presence is felt only we are acknowledged. Otherwise, we cease to exist, to be a person.
Personhood is an identity of every human being. It is a definition of life, of existing in a society and of being humane. However, having mentioned the above technological threats to personhood, it can be rightfully controlled if appropriate precautionary measures are adopted. Though information on the web is obtained at the mere click of a mouse, it has to be used with the utmost of discretion. One way of dealing with this problem is to have a secure database which has more of user control. More user control may mean that the user has access to several privacy and security settings, where he may decide which section of people will get to view his profile. The user also needs to have more transparency where he may be able to view, the kind and quantity of people accessing his personal data. This will reduce insecurity in the database; thus reducing threat to personhood.
Works Cited
Lanier, J. You Are Not A Gadget. New York. 2010. Print.
“At a Crossroad: Personhood and Digital Identity in the Information Society.” OECD. 2007.
Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
