Chapter 5: Information Privacy

The ability to restrict access to personal information, establishing a 'zone of inaccessibility' around individuals.

Technology makes it easier to gather, share, combine, and distribute information, potentially leading to decreased privacy.

The act of revealing personal information to others, which can be unintentional or deliberate.

The process of analyzing large datasets to discover patterns and insights, potentially leading to privacy concerns.

A situation where individuals or groups express dissatisfaction or negative responses due to perceived privacy violations.

Privacy contributes to personal growth, freedom to express oneself, and the development of meaningful relationships.

Privacy can be seen as a natural right, stemming from the idea of property rights and the right to control one's personal space.

Privacy can be seen as a fundamental human right, protecting dignity and autonomy. However, excessive privacy can hinder societal well-being.

Cell phone providers in the US are required to track the location of active cell phones to within 100 meters. This allows emergency services to reach people in need quickly.

Shoppers who join a store's rewards program can save money on purchases. Computers use information about your buying habits to personalize your experience. For example, computerized shopping carts might display ads based on your past purchases.

Some department stores have 3D body scanners that measure your body shape. Computers can use this information to recommend clothes that fit you perfectly, or even create custom-made clothing just for you.

An RFID tag is a tiny wireless transmitter that's replacing bar codes. These tags contain more information and can be scanned more easily.

Taiwan requires pet dogs to have implanted microchips, similar to a grain of rice, that hold the owner's contact information. This allows lost dogs to be reunited with their owners.

OnStar is a communication system integrated into cars, providing emergency, security, navigation, and diagnostics services to subscribers. It allows for two-way communication and GPS tracking, and can even automatically call for help when airbags deploy.

RFID tags are being used in inventory management to track items quickly and efficiently. This helps businesses know what's in stock and where it's located.

RFID tags can be used in various ways, but they also raise privacy concerns because, if they cannot be removed or disabled, they can be used as tracking devices.

The right to be left alone, encompassing control over personal information and personal space.

A type of right that is not inherent but rather based on practical considerations and consequences.

Information about an incident or action reported to a government agency for the purpose of informing the public.

A process through which individuals establish their trustworthiness and credibility to others.

Information that is shared or revealed voluntarily, often through online platforms or interactions.

A label or tag that identifies a person in a photo, often used on social media platforms.

A form of biometric technology that recognizes faces based on unique features.

The potential for misuse of Facebook tags, leading to privacy concerns.

A decision-making framework that focuses on maximizing overall happiness or well-being.

A philosophical framework that suggests rights and responsibilities stem from agreements within a society.

A moral philosophy that emphasizes acting in accordance with universal principles.

A school of ethics that focuses on developing good character traits and virtues.

The potential consequences of widespread nanny monitoring, including both positive and negative effects.

The Sullivans' decision to secretly monitor their nanny, considered wrong due to violations of privacy and ethical principles.

The potential for data gathering and the implications for privacy.

A small file placed on a computer's hard drive by a website, containing information about visits to that site. Cookies allow websites to offer personalized services.

Digital video recorders like TiVo capture detailed information about a user's viewing habits, recording every program watched down to the second. This data is valuable to advertisers and others who want to understand viewing trends.

Stored by a web server running Adobe Flash Player, flash cookies can store up to 25 times more information than browser cookies. They are not controlled by the browser's privacy settings.

Modern cars have a 'black box' that records various data including speed, braking pressure, and seat belt status for five seconds after an accident. This information can be retrieved by investigators to determine the cause of the accident.

Switching from paper-based to electronic medical records offers numerous advantages, such as faster and cheaper information sharing among caregivers and improved medical care quality. However, it also raises concerns about the potential for data breaches and uncontrolled information dissemination.

Automobile 'black boxes' function similarly to airplane black boxes, collecting data about a car's performance and conditions leading up to an accident.

By collecting data on a user's viewing habits, TiVo allows advertisers to target their messages more effectively. This raises concerns about privacy as it exposes individual viewing preferences to businesses.

Flash cookies are difficult to control as they are independent of browser privacy settings and can hold a lot of information, potentially compromising user privacy.

Lotus Development Corporation created a CD with data on 120 million Americans. They planned to sell it to businesses for creating mailing lists based on income, but faced backlash from consumers concerned about privacy.

Facebook's 'Beacon' feature shared user purchase information with their friends without explicit consent, causing uproar. Users were surprised that their purchases were public, leading to strong criticism and eventually a shift to an opt-in policy.

Netflix offered a $1 Million prize for creating a better user rating prediction algorithm. They released 100 million movie ratings from half a million customers. Researchers proved that ratings were not anonymous. This led to the cancellation of the contest due to privacy concerns.

In 2011, malls used cell phone location data to track shopper movement, gaining insights like visiting time, preferred areas, and shopping patterns. This raised privacy concerns.

Flash cookies are small data files that are harder to delete than regular cookies. They help websites remember your settings even if you delete your regular cookies.

Half of the top 100 websites use flash cookies, highlighting the prevalence and potential for privacy concerns related to persistent data tracking.

Flash cookies can 'respawn' after being deleted, because they are stored differently than normal browser cookies.