Essay Sample on Internet Privacy: A Growing Global Concern?

Introduction

The advent of technology and more particularly in the internet spectrum has brought much efficient communication and building of a stronger social relationship. However, there has been widespread concern about internet privacy across the world. More often than not, individuals have been reporting specific incidences where they feel the internet has breached their privacy. Many people have adopted technology in its entirety without considering its downside effects such as privacy concerns. In the recent past, there has been an outcry about the breach of personal data, and the CEOs of the leading global tech giants have been issuing acknowledgement and apology reports without taking more proactive measures to limit infiltration of personal data. Undeniably, the rapid development of the technology firms has brought significant commercial benefits across the world, but the technology privacy campaigners have indicated that the benefits should not override the need for individual's privacy. Despite the immense benefits of the technology, the internet has brought more downside effects and more particularly to the individuals' privacy.

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The increased adoption of technology has denied the people an opportunity to have substantial control of their data. Governments and large corporations often use technology to collect and keep records of the individuals' activities (BBC News, 2017). Consumers always disregard the basic agreements that are meant to safeguard their private data. Ben Wizner of the American Civil Liberties Union argued that the corporations always use personal information to infiltrate on the individual's life (BBC News, 2017). Understandably, every individual has a pile of data which, when published, can be professionally detrimental. In most cases the governments often use technology to create data about the individuals as they undertake their activities which inevitably denies them a right to individual privacy. It is worth noting that the mobile phones and the technologically enhanced transport system have increasingly become an enabler to the creation of data and the corporations have been leveraging on this to expand their market share (BBC News, 2017). The improved services and products provided by large companies after harvesting the individuals' data have created less incentive for the consumers to pursue their rights to privacy actively.

Human beings are social animals and more often than not they always engage in social behaviors such as dancing, singing, and sexual activity among others (Greenwald, 2014). This right to remain socially expressive is often taken away from them when they realize that some people are keeping an eye on what they are doing. Notably, breaching of the individual's privacy always leave a sense of humiliation and indignity in their faces, and this illustrates that the internet has significantly destroyed the people's privacy (Greenwald, 2014). Understandably, the internet has created unwelcome mass surveillance which has impeded the privacy rights of individuals and this cause restriction on the lives of the people. Despite the common assertions among some people that privacy does not matter, they have been taking measures that will ensure that their privacy is safeguarded and this includes putting passwords on social networking accounts and emails. In appreciation of the fact that internet destroys the privacy, the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg together with his wife purchased a home plus other adjacent houses in Palo Alto to ensure that they have adequate privacy (Greenwald, 2014).

Despite the fact the people often publish their personal information on social platforms such as Facebook and Twitter; they always need some things about them to remain confidential (Greenwald, 2014). Some individuals may not be having a bad intention, but they find it important to hide their activities from the judgmental eyes of other people. They are always reluctant to disclose some information to their spouses, physicians, and psychologist. However, in the contemporary world, the advancement of technology has created a dangerous norm where personal information is readily available, which denies the individuals' their rights to privacy. It has been established that the failure of the individuals to gain a deep understanding of the privacy has allowed the internet to permeate the lives of people which ultimately result in adverse effects. For instance, in the novel 1984 by George Orwell, there was heavy surveillance on the people and all their activities and movements were being scrutinized (Greenwald, 2014).

Furthermore, there is a widely held belief, particularly in the dystopian system that monitoring of the people results in total submission. Their argument is often premised on the fact that limiting the interactions of people discourages them to become dissident in the society and undeniably so the constant monitoring always cripples the essential human freedom and more importantly their privacy (Greenwald, 2014). Governments always have a different meaning for "people doing bad things". In their understanding, doing bad things involve undertaking activities that are likely to destabilize their power, and this explains why they are hell-bent to constantly monitor the people which destroys the privacy of the people in the process. Moreover, the internet has become more sophisticated and only individuals who are tech-savvy have the ability to undertake steps that will ensure that their personal information is sufficiently safeguarded (Greenwald, 2014). Most people often get to realize that their privacy has been breached after it has happened.

It is imperative to note that there have been counterarguments that the advancement of technology has contributed significantly to the safeguarding of people's privacy. Individuals often seek to understand their medical conditions, career progression targets, and sexual or gender interest through the internet without having to involve other people (Moschella, 2019). Understandably, disclosing some personal information to people can result in personal embarrassment and such instances, the internet often provides much-needed privacy. Many consumers believe that their handheld gadgets help them in gaining an understanding of the most sensitive things that will never try to seek their answers from their parents or neighbors (Moschella, 2019). Additionally, the believers of the internet as an enabler of privacy have argued that using digital technology is often safer compared to disclosing information to other individuals. However, it is worth noting that the privacy threat posed by the internet greatly outweighs the expected benefits. The internet is always less secured, and this has resulted in ineffective protection of privacy abuses. More critically, the leading tech giants across the world have not taken the most appropriate measures to address the challenge of privacy concerns in the digital technology.

Undeniably, the internet has been instrumental in the contemporary world, and the governments and global security agencies have been relying on digital technology to address emerging issues like terrorism. However, it should be noted that the internet has negatively affected the privacy of the people by undertaking secret monitoring of their activities. The internet always creates a platform where the personal data of people can be collected and recorded without their knowledge, and they often realize that their privacy has been breached after it has happened. Notably, human beings are socially expressive and the internet has been making it possible to infiltrate their privacy as they undertake social activities like dancing and singing. Moreover, dystopian systems often rely on digital technology to keep track of the activities and crack down on individuals which they believe are detrimental to their rule. This adversely affects the privacy of the people in the society. In light of this, people should understand the dangers posed by the internet and undertake measures that will protect them against internet privacy abuses.

References

BBC News. (2017). "Is Privacy Dead on an Online World?" https://www.bbc.com>news>technology-41483723

Greenwald, G. (2014). Why Privacy Matters [TED talk] http://www.ted.com/talks/glenn_greenwald_why_privacy_matters_ transcript? language=en

Moschella, D. (2019). "The Internet: Privacy Enabler or Detractor?" InformationWeek https://www.informationweek.com>security-and-risk-privacy>d-id