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Privacy is a Biological Imperative?

Posted by Zonk on from the only-for-some dept.

sevej writes "As a lead-in to an article in the August 2007 issue, Scientific American recently published an interview with Carnegie Mellon computer scientist Latanya Sweeney regarding the trade-offs between security and privacy. Dr. Sweeney provides a refreshing counter-point to Sun Microsystems CEO, Scott McNealy's 'famous quip', 'Privacy is dead. Get over it.' She advocates the idea that privacy is not primarily a political expediency, but rather a biological one. Suggesting that technological design doesn't have to take a 'soup OR salad' approach, she calls for changes in the way present and future computer scientists are trained. Dr. Sweeney is quoted as saying, 'I think if we are successful in producing a new breed of engineers and computer scientists, society will really benefit. The whole technology-dialectics thing is really aiming at how you should go about teaching engineers and computer scientists to think about user acceptance and social adoption [and also that they] have to think about barriers to technology [from the beginning].'"

6 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. Yarrrr! by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 5, Funny

    I told ye I had grog in me veins.
    Yo ho ho a pirates life for me!

    Avast!

    Ohhh, you said Privacy

    --
    liqbase :: faster than paper
  2. Biology by PresidentEnder · · Score: 2, Funny

    Your darn right it's a biological imperative. I can't get anyone to have sex and continue the species without privacy!

    --
    I used to carry a bottle of whiskey for snake bite. And two snakes. -Nefarious Wheel
  3. Piracy is a Biological Imperative! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    There, that reads *much* better.

  4. I didn't know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    think if we are successful in producing a new breed of engineers and computer scientists, society will really benefit


    I didn't know that engineers and computer scientist were classified by breed these days. Anyway, I'm glad there is groundbreaking research on bloodlines going on to develop this new breed that they are looking for. I hear they are expecting a breakthrough any day now.
  5. Re:Biological necessity? Maybe so... by corgan517 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Screw that, I get uncomfortable watching my dog 'poopie'. I have biological need to not feel like vomiting.

  6. Re:Biology would be pro-active defense, not reacti by Smauler · · Score: 2, Funny

    My potential voyeurs are already too busy looking at goatse.

    I don't want to know what you do in front of your window.