Keys to Privacy in the Digital Information Age

Abstract

With dramatic increases in reliance on digital media for communications, the need for comprehensive protection of privacy in these media grows. The scope of the digital communications revolution (of which we stand only at the very beginning), poses major new challenges for those concerned about protecting communications privacy. Communication which is carried on paper through the mail system, or over the wire‐based public telephone network is relatively secure from random intrusion by others. But the same communication traveling over a wireless communication system, or in a digital format, is vulnerable to being intercepted by relatively inexpensive, easy‐to‐obtain technology. If designed and deployed properly, communications technology has the potential to actually support and enhance the level of privacy that we all enjoy. But if, in the design process, privacy concerns are slighted, whether consciously or not, privacy may be compromised.

Citation

Berman, J. and Weltzner, D.J. (1992), "Keys to Privacy in the Digital Information Age", Internet Research, Vol. 2 No. 4, pp. 2-5. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb047267