Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Suffolk Transnational Law Review

Volume

25

Publication Date

2001

Keywords

Right to privacy, information flow, personal electronic information, Europe

Abstract

An individual's right to privacy in an electronic society has gained international attention as a booming new field. Its birth may roughly be marked to coincide with the birth of the Internet. The flow of information without limit or boundary has raised concerns with the consumer spokespeople in the Western World that personal information about them may flow as easily as general information about Machu Pichu, Keynesian economics, or Harvard College. The fear is that will cause individuals harm, ranging from personal embarrassment to a loss of civil liberties. Therefore, movements are developing to limit this flow of information. The direction that this movement should take is the subject of controversy. This article argues that our right to the privacy of electronic information is of no real consequence to us and has largely already been lost. Furthermore, most of the information about us should not be squeezed to the vest like a winning poker hand, but, rather, should be happily publicized. What had been thought of as dirty little secrets, should better be seen as fresh air.

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