Internet Privacy
Jillian Brinberg, Maggie Kowalski, Sylvia
Han, Isabel Smith-Bernstein, Jillian
Brinberg
What is Privacy?
 An individual’s confidential
information, behavior, and
communications.
 Ranges from minor details
to serious and classified
information
 Everyone is susceptible to
privacy breaches
 Online privacy is a heavily
debated issue
A Brief History
 As new methods of communication are produced, (the printing
press, the computer, the internet) new ways to breach privacy
become possible.
 The first article advocating privacy in the US was published in 1890,
which was largely a response to newspapers and photographs.
 Was a response to the Fourth Amendment: “The right of the people
to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no
Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched,
and the persons or things to be seized.”
A Brief History Continued
 Over the last decade, the fourth amendment has been
applied to digital technology.
 As the internet becomes increasingly popular, people
become increasingly worried about their safety online.
Criticisms
 Some people are not aware of the amount of privacy lost
when entering the online world
 The amount of privacy one has can be heavily influenced by
the user’s choices
 Information of Internet users are too easily accessible
through
 ISPs
 Data logging
 Third parties can access personally-identifiable information
of the user by looking at their Internet activities
 Public records are available free or for a fee
Benefits
 Security
 Being able to make purchases without fearing identity
theft
 Balancing utility vs. privacy
 Compromises
 Google Street View
 Cookies
 Social Networking
Compromises
 Google Street View
 Many worried about loss of privacy
 Anyone can find an acquaintance’s house
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Check out hotels before traveling
Avoid parking tickets
View real estate
Blurs peoples’ faces and certain geographic locations
Solve crimes. Don’t believe me?
 take a look!
Compromises
 Cookies
 Many worried about the data stored by cookies
 Can only store IP addresses
 “small elements of data that web sites store on visitors’
web browsers in order to provide them with a more
tailored user experience”
 Tiny text files
 Track anonymous web user behavior
 Optimum online experience, not spyware
Compromises
 Social Networking Sites
 Stupid users put a lot of unnecessary personal information
online
 Many worried about identity theft
 Networking  jobs
 Keeping track of old acquaintances
 Sense of community
What should be done?
Educate!!
 People will use the Internet regardless of the risks
 The best thing to do is teach safe Internet behavior
 Harsher punishments for violations of Internet privacy
laws