Chapter 8 of Esther Dyson's book "Release 2.0" deals with the issue of privacy. The idea of privacy did not start with the internet, but is a growing part of what is to come in the future. Since all of the information on the internet is collected and archived some where people become weary of what others know about them. Information such as bank accounts, credit history, what they view "online," habits, and background, all of which may be used in a negative way such as black mail, not getting a particular job, and being spammed (marketed).

There are measures being taken in congress such as the "consumer Internet Privacy Protection Act of 1997,""Children's Privacy Protection and Parental Empowerment Act,"and "Communications Privacy and Consumer Empowerment Act,"
 

 Q.    How would you stop credit card companies from getting personal information?    -Kyle Michibata
A. By using companies that protects a persons privacy. There is also one thing a person must remember though is that if you have a credit card already your information is already distributed to other companies.

Q.    Even though we are protected by law in regards to our "right to privacy," how does its accessibility over the internet to your (Social Security Number, Credit Cards, Medical Records, etc.) infringe upon that right?    -Albert Ne
A. The information contained within these files are what people are most concerned about. It is this information that people may black mail you because of something. Such as a person dying of a disease this person if the medical insurance companies find out will not give this dying person a medical plan thus the money must come out of the persons pocket.

Q.    Are you worried about the privacy issue on the net? Why yes or no?    -Dr. James
A. Yes, I am worried because if there are no limitations set then who knows what will happen. I would not want a stranger knowing where I live and what I like to do.

Q.    What do you think are important privacy issues for the future?    -Dr. James
A. I think that this is determined by the person since it is a personalized issue. Though I think that for most would be their bank accounts and record.

Q.    Why should we worry about privacy if we're not doing anything illegal?    -Dr. James
A. It is not just about doing anything illegal it is the feeling of safety that is being promoted. If one wants to look at the issue of not doing anything illegal I don't think we should worry unless the reason why the person wants to know is illegal.

Q.    How important is privacy to you?
A. Privacy is not that important to me unless it deals with the specifics such as medical records and bank accounts.

Q.    What is your "preference" for privacy?    -Carolyn Agmata
A. My preference to privacy is that as long as they do not infringe on my medical records and bank accounts.

Q.    Do you purchase things on the net - if so, what type of information do you give out?    -Carolyn Agmata
A. No I don't purchase anything on the web.

Q.    In your opinion, which of the three types of "trust" would be the most effective in protecting personal information diclosed on the web?    -Jocelyn Manibusan
A. the "trust" in which all information is with held and not used for profit.

Q.    How much privacy do we have when we're on the net?    -Hyechin Kim
A. The amount of privacy all depends on what you are doing on the net. If you were on a discussion group your information is posted world wide for everyone to see.

Q.    Do you think that web enforcement is coming to little too late? what do you think are the implications of this?    -Corey Egami
A. No I don't think that there should be enforcement by a government agency. I do believe that it should be monitored by the individual groups and isp's

Q.    Do you think that people are particularly protectitve of the internet as the last form of media for free speech?    -Corey Egami
A. I don't think that they are being protectitive of the internet as the last form of media for free speech because I think that it is still growing and like a baby one does not put rules on them. One allows it to grow into its own, I think that the internet still is growing and little by little the social structure is being put into place.

Q.    What is your opinion on internet privacy? Do you think letting the consumers (users) decide whether or not their information should be kept discrete is an effective approach, or do you think the government should step in?    -Sheri Lieberman
A. I think it should be left to the consumers because with the government interference I think that the internet will cease its expansion.

Q.    What is the difference between being identified on the net, and being identified by normal means, like at the DMV? Are we in anymore dnager by being identified on the web then by other means?    -Sean Marrs
A. No because if a person wants your information badly enough they will find ways of getting that information.

Q.    Is there any software that will allow users complete privacy online?    -George Pederson
A. Anything posted on the web has a chance of revealing your privacy. As of yet there is not one that is full proof.

    This topic was very informational, I think that everyone has their thoughts on how privacy can affect them. For myself I am relaxed about the information people can get as long as the information is not used to harm me of anyone I know. Privacy I feel is an issue that must be looked at in greater depth to exam why people feel the way they do and why other feel another way.
 

    In conclusion everyone should take a look at the privacy issue with an open eye to see what parts of privacy is important to look at. Using trust that a company portrays is important to build the internet and keep it expanding. Many more people are going online and I think that with more and more people doing so, there needs to be research on what people actually want in the means of privacy and what will keep people using the internet.