The Right To Privacy
In recent years, the well-being of internet users has been a major issue of debate between proponents of traditional rights to privacy and those who suggest that people should sacrifice security and privacy when using the internet. The right to privacy is a fundamental right in modern society and many areas of life are affected by it, including health care, personal relationships, the arts and other fields of social endeavour.
Privacy involves the right to keep information about oneself private and confidential. Everyone is entitled to a certain level of privacy, be it your computer, your internet profile, or your physical home. It is vitally important to protect your personal information so as to keep it away from others who may use it for their own gain or to maliciously target you.
No one wants to be followed around, or have their virtual lives spied upon. It is for this reason that it is necessary for the general public to be aware of the important policies and regulations that have been established to protect our privacy rights.
For instance, there is a federal law in the United States, known as the Right to Privacy Act, which establishes the nation’s basic privacy laws, on both a federal and local level. These laws serve to protect citizens from having their personal identifying information collected and used for malicious purposes. There are then various laws throughout the country that offer more specialized forms of protection, such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and the Videotape Privacy Protection Act.
It is also a good idea to read and stay informed about relevant privacy policies, as they may outline when and where your personal data can be used and/or collected, what it is used for, and how it can be shared. Moreover, they also can describe how long that data is retained, and how it can be removed or destroyed. To help protect yourself further, take the time to think about how much personal information you are comfortable sharing on social media, digital devices, and with new people you meet.
In the current climate, with so much of our day-to-day lives now existing online, it is especially important to be aware of our rights to digital privacy. As technology continues to advance, so too must our understanding of, and protection from, potential privacy issues. By understanding the concept of privacy and acknowledging our rights to it, we can all strive to help create a safe, secure and protected environment for our use of the internet.
