This article enquires whether risks to privacy are greater in some policy sectors than others. First it shows how the Labour Government's policy agenda is producing stronger imperatives towards data sharing than was the case under previous administrations in three fields of public policy and services, and then examines the safeguards introduced in these fields. The authors then compare the settlements emerging from differing practices within each of these policy sectors, before briefly assessing which, if any, principles of data protection seem to be most at risk and in which policy contexts. Four strategies for the governance of data sharing and privacy are recapitulated namely, seeking to make the two commitments consistent or even mutually reinforcing; mitigating the tensions with safeguards such as detailed guidelines; allowing privacy to take precedence over integration; and allowing data sharing to take precedence over privacy. Argue that the UK government has increasingly sought to pursue the second strategy and that the vertical dimension is, in practice, much more important in defining the settlement between data sharing and privacy than is the horizontal dimension. This strategy is, however, potentially unstable and may not be sustainable. The conclusion proposes a radical recasting of the way in which the idea of a 'balance' between privacy and data-sharing imperatives is conceived.
This article enquires whether risks to privacy are greater in some policy sectors than others. First it shows how the Labour Government's policy agenda is producing stronger imperatives towards data sharing than was the case under previous administrations in three fields of public policy and services, and then examines the safeguards introduced in these fields. The authors then compare the settlements emerging from differing practices within each of these policy sectors, before briefly assessing which, if any, principles of data protection seem to be most at risk and in which policy contexts. Four strategies for the governance of data sharing and privacy are recapitulated namely, seeking to make the two commitments consistent or even mutually reinforcing; mitigating the tensions with safeguards such as detailed guidelines; allowing privacy to take precedence over integration; and allowing data sharing to take precedence over privacy. Argue that the UK government has increasingly sought to pursue the second strategy and that the vertical dimension is, in practice, much more important in defining the settlement between data sharing and privacy than is the horizontal dimension. This strategy is, however, potentially unstable and may not be sustainable. The conclusion proposes a radical recasting of the way in which the idea of a 'balance' between privacy and data-sharing imperatives is conceived.
Subject terms:
NHS, privacy, social policy, access to information, case studies, central government, data protection;
Journal of Social Issues, 59(2), July 2003, pp.323-342.
Publisher:
Wiley
Consumer privacy is at the center of an ongoing debate among business leaders, privacy activists, and government officials. Although corporations face competitive pressures to collect and use personal information about their customers, many consumers find some methods of collection and use of their personal information unfair. We present a justice theory framework that illustrates how consumer privacy concerns are shaped by the perceived fairness of corporate information practices. We describe a set of global principles, fair information practices, which were developed to balance consumer privacy concerns with an organization's need to use personal information. We conclude by discussing three alternatives for implementing fair information practices with particular attention to the Internet:
Consumer privacy is at the center of an ongoing debate among business leaders, privacy activists, and government officials. Although corporations face competitive pressures to collect and use personal information about their customers, many consumers find some methods of collection and use of their personal information unfair. We present a justice theory framework that illustrates how consumer privacy concerns are shaped by the perceived fairness of corporate information practices. We describe a set of global principles, fair information practices, which were developed to balance consumer privacy concerns with an organization's need to use personal information. We conclude by discussing three alternatives for implementing fair information practices with particular attention to the Internet: government regulation, industry self-regulation, and technological solutions.
Subject terms:
information management, information technology, internet, privacy, central government, confidentiality, economics;
... for cooperative work among politicians and officials in Danish local government; the political consequences of information and communication technologies in UK local government; democracy and virtual communication in Amsterdam; political parties in the digital era; information technology, openness of government and democracy; information superhighways and the privacy debate; and democracy and datacoupling.
Detailed exploration of the relationship between information and democracy. Includes a literature review and sections on: informatization and views of democracy; channeling democratic influences through bureaucracies; laying down the infrastructure for innovations in teledemocracy - the case of Scotland; community information systems; public administration and information; computer based tools for cooperative work among politicians and officials in Danish local government; the political consequences of information and communication technologies in UK local government; democracy and virtual communication in Amsterdam; political parties in the digital era; information technology, openness of government and democracy; information superhighways and the privacy debate; and democracy and datacoupling.
Subject terms:
information technology, literature reviews, local government, politics, privacy, social policy, central government;
Journal of Social Issues, 59(2), July 2003, pp.431-453.
Publisher:
Wiley
This article provides a framework for analysing privacy in modern societies, defining information privacy and describing three levels that structure the values assigned to privacy. After describing a contemporary privacy baseline (1945-1960), these concepts are applied to social and political privacy developments in three contemporary eras of steadily growing privacy concerns and societal responses across citizen-government, employee-employer, and consumer-business relationships in 1961-1979, 1980-1989, and 1990-2002. Each period is described in terms of new technology applications, changing social climates, and organisational and legal developments. Effects of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on privacy balances are analysed and predictions for future privacy developments are presented.
This article provides a framework for analysing privacy in modern societies, defining information privacy and describing three levels that structure the values assigned to privacy. After describing a contemporary privacy baseline (1945-1960), these concepts are applied to social and political privacy developments in three contemporary eras of steadily growing privacy concerns and societal responses across citizen-government, employee-employer, and consumer-business relationships in 1961-1979, 1980-1989, and 1990-2002. Each period is described in terms of new technology applications, changing social climates, and organisational and legal developments. Effects of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on privacy balances are analysed and predictions for future privacy developments are presented.
Subject terms:
law, organisational structure, organisations, privacy, social work history, terrorism, access to information, central government, economics, employment;
Social Policy and Administration, 37(5), October 2003, pp.68-482.
Publisher:
Wiley
In exploring the implications of information and communication technologies (ICTs), it has suggested the need for a new category of rights—virtual rights. To explore this claim, the authors consider how developments in information management and processing differentially impact on citizens. Using examples from the public and private sectors we explore the dangers posed by the emergent surveillance society and agree these may require new rights. The state has by no means been an exemplar and, moreover, that many of the “surveilling” practices employed by commercial organizations might be used by the state to pursue socially just ends. We argue against a criticalist perspective that narrowly focuses on the dangers posed by new ICTs. Indeed, from a realist perspective the authors argue that a positive cybercriticalism that seeks to tackle exclusion by harnessing and constraining the surveillance qualities of ICTs is a pressing policy priority.
In exploring the implications of information and communication technologies (ICTs), it has suggested the need for a new category of rights—virtual rights. To explore this claim, the authors consider how developments in information management and processing differentially impact on citizens. Using examples from the public and private sectors we explore the dangers posed by the emergent surveillance society and agree these may require new rights. The state has by no means been an exemplar and, moreover, that many of the “surveilling” practices employed by commercial organizations might be used by the state to pursue socially just ends. We argue against a criticalist perspective that narrowly focuses on the dangers posed by new ICTs. Indeed, from a realist perspective the authors argue that a positive cybercriticalism that seeks to tackle exclusion by harnessing and constraining the surveillance qualities of ICTs is a pressing policy priority.
Subject terms:
information management, information technology, knowledge management, mass media, privacy, rights, social policy, social care provision, systems approach, central government, confidentiality;