Throughout this class we have discussed the importance of educating the public about using the internet both safely and effectively. The fact that there is no legal requirement for internet agencies to educate their users about privacy. There may however, be a law in the future that requires just that. Lawmakers are introducing an internet privacy bill that would force companies to have an "opt-out" option for the use of "covered" information and an "opt-in" option for the use of "sensitive" information. "Covered" information is your name, address, phone number, email, any government issued identification number (SS#, driver's license number, passport number, etc), biometric data, bank account numbers and passwords, or other numbers that assist companies with computer use identity. "Sensitive" information is qualified as medical records, race, religion, sexual orientation, financial records, or user's geographical location. The above lists and more information can be found at http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/05/religion-sex-money-location-bill-makes-them-sensitive-info.ars
Some feel that these changes would decrease business for some small companies causing them to close while others feel this is a way to assist the public in protecting their information. I personally like the "opt-in" idea. This allows each individual to make a choice in the beginning about their level of privacy. Only having an "opt-out" option seems to leave more gray area for users and companies to disagree about.
Will this bill cause some of the small companies to go under? Who is more important small business or the internet user? Could this be a step in the right direction concerning privacy and internet use or is the government putting its nose in where is shouldn't be?
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This definitely seems to be a step in the right direction. Data collection is scary enough to me that I sometimes feel like unplugging completely and burying my head in the sand! Right now, I have no idea what rules (if any) govern who can collect information from me without my knowledge or consent, and what they can do with it. Boucher is spot-on when he says this bill would help internet users feel more assured of their privacy. Even if everything were made "opt-out"...at least I would know there's something to opt out of.
ReplyDeleteI think giving people the option to control their own privacy is a good thing. I can understand the fear that any sort of requirements might be too taxing on small business, but there needs to be something done. I think any possible law might take smaller businesses into consideration and provide resources to help them protect their customers as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm not entirely sure I like the idea of the government having any more to do with business than they already do. It was never intended for the federal government to have the power to restrict business in this country, and every time I hear about government trying to do just that I cringe. Does something need to be done about internet privacy? No doubt. But as was illustrated in Little Brother, no security measures are hack proof, least of all government-initiated. I believe a nationwide push for education about internet privacy and security would be more effective in the long run than a law like the one proposed here.
ReplyDelete~Lynn