Today, I propose we declare the death of privacy. In our technically advancing world, our personal privacy expectations must be reconsidered, re-conceived and redefined. We all expose ourselves through swipes, transactions, likes and tweets. Through handsets, television sets and mindsets, we voluntarily add our behavioral attributes to the associated handlers of our digital DNA almost entirely without consideration for personal privacy.
Privacy is the number one concern of Internet users; it is also the top reason why non-users still avoid the Internet. Survey after survey indicates mounting concern. (Source: The Center for Democracy and Technology)
As individuals we become more and more accepting of that singular point where humans merge with their technology. Even if you decide to isolate yourself from the world around you shunning all forms and permeation of human technology, you would fail in an isolated illusion as technology is still capable of finding you. Today, I propose we declare the death of privacy and embrace our new handlers with the collective force only technological consumers can wield.
As the volume and characteristics of cross-border data flows have been evolving, elevating privacy risks, and raising cross-border enforcement challenges. This has resulted in the need for a more global and systematic approach to cross-border privacy law enforcement co-operation. (Source: Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development OECD)
The force of accountability, of audit-ability and of a legal duty to protect our digital identities entrusted to them by us, the consumers. Those who have the power to peruse and use our personally identifying information should now have an undisputed legal duty to use this information without doing the individual or class of individuals harm. Those who have the power to intrude have a duty to be discreet, observing the fact that human emotions are frail, volatile and subject to wide subjective interpretation.
It is our personal responsibility to use technology wisely and our handlers’ responsibility to reinforce this personal responsibility. It is our responsibility to enforce, mandate, monitor and to magistrate over the corporate, the government and the individual handlers we knowingly entrust our privacy to. All others should face the full force of a globally unified common law.
Article first published as The Death of Privacy? on Technorati.