Readings:

Privacy and Information, Baase, chapt. 2
Privacy and the Internet, Spinello, chapt. 2

Prof. Martin's Notes on Privacy, Part 1 (PDF, 240 Kb)
Prof. Martin's Notes on Privacy, Part 2 (PDF, 420 Kb)
Prof. Martin's Notes on Social-Research (PDF, 40 Kb)

Individual Ethics Scenario Analysis due Thursday 7/18

Research Report on Project Subject Area due Sunday 7/21

HEADS-UP Advance Notice: Science Fiction Assignment (click for details)

B. Discussion and individual research reports on project (by Sunday 7/21)

C. Discussion of Privacy Issues (by Sunday 7/21) -- Each of the following scenarios considers a current issue with privacy implications. Each has a discussion forum in the Blackboard discussion area. Your assignment is to participate in at least TWO of the three discussions.

SCENARIO 1: Medical Databases: One way to solve the drug interaction problem that occurs if patients take drugs prescribed by different doctors would be to set up a nationwide (or worldwide) database system accessed by all doctors and pharmacists. Any time your doctor prescribes a medication, she would check the database to see all prescriptions you're using or have used in the past, even those prescribed by other doctors. And before filling your prescription, the pharmacist would check your other medications for interactions with the new one. What are the privacy implications here? What sort of entity should operate this database -- government, private industry, what?

SCENARIO 2: Smartphones to the Max: As we know, the latest cellphones have GPS circuits that can determine the location of the phone to within a few meters. An obvious benefit is that emergency services can precisely locate the victim of an accident or sudden illness. Now the retailing industry is experimenting with using your phone's GPS to determine your precise shopping location -- which aisle in the supermarket! -- and (for example) send an instant discount coupon to your phone. Obviously you'd have to opt in for such a "service". Discuss whether -- and why or why not -- you'd opt in to this tradeoff of some of your privacy for shopping discounts?

SCENARIO 3: The Feds and Privacy: In recent years we've learned of federal-government projects to listen in on international phone calls, collect basic data on all phone calls, and track international financial transactions. How much privacy should citizens give up in order to protect the country from terrorists? Should such projects be done only under court supervision, or should an Administration be empowered to act alone?