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Course: Wireless Philosophy > Unit 5
Lesson 9: Should we worry about our diminishing sphere of privacy?Evaluating the argument
Should We Worry about Our Diminishing Sphere of Privacy?
Evaluate and discuss the argument presented in this video.
How concerned should we be about the way that surveillance technologies are curtailing our privacies, and thus our spheres of protected activities?
Consider the following range of opinions on this question:
- Simply put, privacy is not as important as the boosts in safety, justice, and convenience that we gain as surveillance technologies become more prevalent, so there’s no reason to worry about this issue.
- It’s possible that, at some point, developments will switch us onto a track that genuinely threatens our privacy, but as long as we keep an eye out for that possibility, we should be able to stay on the right track, continuing to enjoy the advantages of widespread surveillance technology without notable sacrifices to our privacy.
- While the development and distribution of surveillance technologies has so far struck an acceptable balance between the advantages of these tools and the protection of privacy, there’s reason to be concerned that we’re rapidly approaching a point where further technological development will destroy our essential privacies.
- Privacy is an essential right in a society that values freedom, democracy, and equality of persons, so we must take significant steps, not just to slow the progress of surveillance technologies, but to aggressively reverse the already excessive use of these tools.
Now, take some time - by yourself or with others - to reflect openly, yet critically, on the ethical considerations raised by the various perspectives, and determine where you stand on this issue. What do YOU think, and why?