The Handbook of Information and Computer Ethics

Book Review Chapter 6:

Informational Privacy: Concepts, Theories, and Controversies: Herman T. Tavani

Library Reference: N/A

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Information-Computer-Ethics/dp/0471799599/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232853902&sr=8-1

Quote:  “We demand recognition of our right to privacy, we complain when privacy is invaded, yet we encounter difficulties immediately [when] we seek to explain what we mean by privacy”

    As humans, we always demand for privacy. It is always a big deal for every one of us to have privacy. We complain when it gets invaded, but it is amusing to know when we seek to explain what we mean by privacy. I have my own definition of privacy, and although it is similar to another person’s definition, I’d say that everyone has their own definition of it.

Learning Expectation:

     I would like to learn and know how this book or chapter explains privacy in their own way. Because a I have said in the quote above, every one of us has his or her own definition of privacy. So, it would be really interesting what the book has to say about privacy. Not to mention that the book discusses concepts, theories and controversies, which makes it more interesting to learn.

Review:

    The first thing the book explains is the concept of privacy. Like what I have quoted above, “We demand recognition of our right to privacy, we complain when privacy is invaded, yet we encounter difficulties immediately [when] we seek to explain what we mean by privacy, what is the area, the content of privacy, what is outside that area, what constitutes a loss of privacy, a loss to which we have consented, a justified loss, an unjustified loss.” It is really amusing that we find it difficult to explain what privacy is all about. As for what Unitary, Derivative, and Cluster Definitions of Privacy says that we cannot frame an adequate definition of privacy unless we are familiar with the ordinary usage of that term. It is also interesting to note that in this chapter, it explains to us why privacy is valued. To add to that, there are four broad categories of privacy which are consumer privacy, medical privacy, employee privacy, and location privacy.

So basically, this chapter of the book is all about the discussion of privacy, which discusses concepts theories, controversies, and other things involving privacy.

What I’ve learned:

    I am happy to say that I was right at the beginning when I said that each and everyone of us has his or her own definition of the term privacy, and it is interesting to note that there is no adequate definition of the term. Also, I discovered the categories of privacy, which I never thought existed.

Questions:

1.    Why is there no definite definition of Privacy?

2.    Is it really that hard or un-determinant to give a simple definition?

3.    Can we all agree on one definition?

4.    How different can one’s definition be?

5.    What if there’ll never be a definite definition?

Citation: (Kenneth Einar E. Himma & Herman T. Tavani, 2008)