Privacy, security, and freedom in the Information Society

Abstract

"It was a bright cold day in April and the clock was striking thirteen ...". It is almost mandatory to quote Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty Four" when writing about this topic - the above lines are the opening phrase of that work and some of Orwell's predictions are uncomfortably near fulfillment. Many new inter-related aspects of privacy have arisen in the last few years, some of which have been briefly discussed before by the author [1].

Human resource information systems (HRIS) and technology trust

“…Privacy concerns regarding confidentiality, disclosure policies and copyright issues have generated heightened apprehension for both individuals and organizations [90]. A significant source of this apprehension occurs because employees have difficulty in accessing the effect of technological developments on their individual privacy [91]. Because organizations are characterized by asymmetries in knowledge and power, institutional mechanisms are typically created to provide assurances of equity and due process in the relationship between the organization and the employee [92].…”

Freedom of information and windbaggery

“…I discussed these matters in this journal ten years ago [4] and quoted one reason, suggested by Andrew Schonfield, for governmental secrecy. &dquo;Persons who carry high responsibility in Britain tend to assume that they cannot be expected to explain their actions to ordinary people who would be unable to understand even if they wanted to.…”