Our Privacy Today Rights Against Progress - 1689 Words

Our Privacy Today: Rights Against Progress In the modern age it is almost unheard of to hear of someone without a telephone or computer in their home. One no longer even needs to be in their home to use said commodities with the increasing accessibility to cell phones. The result of such available technology is that we have now unloaded large amounts of our personal information over digital mediums. Our telephone conversations, our home addresses, and even our banking credentials are all common things are being stored digitally. The convenience of such technology had the side effect that any information saved can be accessed by a greater authority who is controlling said services. Obviously these higher authorities have no intentions of†¦show more content†¦There are many reasons why this debate has become so large. For one, it effects nearly all people with access to technological commodities, which is a vast majority of today’s population. Also, there is little middle ground between both parties. Any possibl e compromises are mostly unsatisfying and often end in favor of a specific side. However, there is some middle ground. If both sides cooperate rather than constantly butt heads, a proposed solution could potentially work. This solution relies on the process of data collection becoming less of a covert, secretive business and instead become one that relies on the consent of participants. The Discussion of Privacy Figure 1 To first understand potential solutions to this polarizing issue, it is first important to understand what others are saying about it and why they have taken their stances. The political editorial in Figure 1 by Jack Ohman is one that comments on the NSA scandal. A massive, rabid-like dog is seen, with the tag â€Å"NSA† on its collar. Besides the dog is a smiling, but grievously wounded man, labeled â€Å"Civil Liberties.† A â€Å"beware of watchdog† sign can be seen on a chain fence in the background. At a glance it may seem like an anti-NSA editorial, however it can be interpreted on either side of the debate. On one side, the rabid and vicious NSA watchdog has damaged Civil