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David Brin on Privacy

Posted by michael on from the no-webcams-in-the-white-house dept.

David Brin is interviewed and provides some strong words on modern conceptions of privacy and why they're off-base. Brin asserts - and argues well - that a land with little privacy is a freer land.

3 of 271 comments (clear)

  1. Please explain then... by sphealey · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I was reading a newspaper article a few months ago (can't remember if it was WSJ, NYT, or Chicago Tribune) about the FBI's use of private databases to dig up information on suspects. The reporter called the database company and ordered searches on the Director of the FBI, John Ashcroft, Bill Gates, Laura Bush, and a few others in similar positions of power. He received a reply of "sorry - we don't sell information on those people" from the database company.

    So if living one's life in full view is such a great thing, why do the powerful arrange things so that they (and their families) don't?

    sPh

  2. Re:A very basic fact... by nomadic · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Or the 9th...

    What we really need is a Constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to privacy; the only problem is the Constitution places limits on the power of government, not private individuals/corporations. So while it would be nice for it to be easier to prevent the government from spying on us, we still have the problem of corporations eager to figure out what breakfast cereals we prefer.

  3. Listen to this man by SlashDread · · Score: 5, Interesting

    David is dead on.

    "Information wants to be free"

    Apply this to information about YOU.

    My point is, most of our actions are done in the public sphere, and can be observed by ANY casual observer. In theory, what anyone does in a public space, cannot be private by definition. Is it bad that people track you for your personal buying habits?

    I dont think so, because I _could_ have spotted you buying it anyway.

    Now, the problem is in WHO can see that data. F.E. if the governement or anyone really, has data on me, Id sure want to know what. So I should be granted access to that data. If only to correct errors made.

    "Information is power"

    It sure is. Just ask the MPAA.
    Now who should have this power? Everyone. That way we can garantee supervising the supervisors.

    So.. Privacy doesnt really exists, but that does not scare me. Information exists, and what scares me if the powers have infomation, that the public has no access too. That way the balance is off.

    Gr /Dread