Question

Large organizations with the help of computer technology collect vast sums of personal information from every one of us. Government agencies have collected increasingly large amounts of personal data from us in recent years -- but perhaps more troubling is the even greater amount of data being collected by private companies. You may have noticed that the banner advertisements on your computer screen are customized to cater to your particular interests. This is because companies like Google collect information about you as you serf the internet. Some businesses maintain a record of every keystroke you make on company computers -- and track your movements with video cameras.

Question: Is the right to privacy rapidly becoming a thing of the past? If so, what are the consequences for individuals and for society?

Answer 1

As technology has taken control of the day today life of the individuals, right to privacy has become the greatest concern not only for individuals but also for the organizations and governments alike. Earlier, there was an accusation that the society is becoming a surveillance society which monitors every movement of people as it is done without their consent. Today, there are lots of computer programs that keep track of all the private information in the pretext of ads. If people click on the ads, all their information would be either stolen or copied in order for the hackers and advertising companies to use that information against people. Although it’s the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens through various surveillance measures and protect them from perpetrators, it shouldn’t be at the expense of the privacy of individuals. It’s because doing so, would only limit the rights and freedom that the constitution has provided them.

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