Personal Privacy in a Technologically Public World :: Technology Human Rights Essays

Personal Privacy in a Technologically Public World "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks."1 So states Article 12 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, enacted in 1948 after 20 years of debate and refinement among member nations. Furthermore, the United Nations Commissioner on Human Rights in 1988 made clear that human rights protections on the secrecy of communications broadly covers all forms of communications: "Compliance with Article 17 requires that the integrity and confidentiality of correspondence should be guaranteed de jure and de facto. Correspondence should be delivered to the addressee without interception and without being opened or otherwise read. Surveillance, whether electronic or otherwise, interceptions of telephonic, telegraphic and other forms of communication, wire-tapping and recording of conversations should be prohibited."2 The degree of privacy protection may differ among cultures and countries, and correspondence may encompass anything from a casual conversation among family members to extensive use of advanced telecommunications devices, but the principle remains the same: at a fundamental level, all human beings have a right to lawfully go about their ordinary business without interference or surveillance. Governments wishing to avoid United Nations sanctions may not make laws abridging these basic rights, and furthermore, must make it unlawful for other entities to do so as well. As the product of an international organization, the Declaration of Human Rights makes a strong case for a universal set of basic rights that follow from innate characteristics shared by all humans, in particular our sense of our own individual identities, and our ability to make choices based on intelligent reflection as opposed to instinctive reaction. In short, the Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the concept o f "personhood", and supports the right of each person to a private personal life. This paper addresses some of the issues surrounding the growing use of technology in our everyday lives, and it's impact on personal privacy, particularly in the United States. What kind of information might we consider private? Is it our driver's license number, social security number, Master Card and Visa numbers and ATM pin? Is it our mother's maiden name, our grades in high school, our educational history, work history and volunteer activities?

Device Invented: Teleportation

â€Å"Kids, back in my days, we didn’t have those fancy teleportation devices; getting to places was a transportation problem. I remember very well those times. Cars now had a modern system of using infrared radiation as energy fuel, therefore many began to buy automobiles since the pollution problem was disappearing. Still, the traffic jams were constant and a solution was being researched. This way, public transportation became the axis of travel of the modern man. Nevertheless, as living and health conditions improved, there were still too many humans in the planet that needed to get from one place to another. We never believed at those times that change was very close. Twelve of November of 2026, a date I will never forget. I was working in my office when I began to hear a crowd of people cheering outside. Apparently scientists had been able to safely teleport an apple from one location to another. The news scattered quickly as a public demonstration was going to take place. I remember I sat down with my fellow workers around the screen and just in front of our eyes we saw how they teleported a dog from a chamber to another one located just a few feet away. The device worked and many anticipated that this method was the end to not only traffic jams but also the future way of public transport, economy, and more. Finally four years later, and just two months before I met your grandmother, authorities explained that teleportation had been tested enough to become safe and people could now use this marvelous invention. That day, I walked from my apartment and went straight to the nearest â€Å"booth† which was the folkloric name people had given it. The â€Å"booth† was two meters high, and wide enough for three people to come in. The machine had a small antennae that beeped loudly. When I first walked in, I could not help but notice the warm interior made of white polystyrene and all the wiring around it. Finally I stepped in, a door automatically closed and I just had to whisper for my destiny and bam, in a matter of a blink, I was standing in the other side of town. The device soon became the first method of transportation making anything quicker and cheeper. The device was soon used not only in transport persons, but soon companies shipped their products this way, and you could say it very much improved every aspect of life. And as you now know boys, the â€Å"booth† was soon modified so that it not only covered a small area but it can now transport 50 persons at the same time. So children, you better get ready for school, its late and you need to teleport in 5 min or you will not get to class in time. †

Principle of Distributive Justice - 1331 Words

Principle of Distributive Justice Considered as one type of justice, distributive justice is a central concept in the Catholic tradition and is closely linked to the concepts of human dignity, the common good, and human rights. Considered as an ethical principle, distributive justice refers to what society or a larger group owes its individual members in proportion to: 1) the individual’s needs, contribution and responsibility; 2) the resources available to the society or organization (market considerations would be included under this, as well as other financial considerations); and 3) the society’s or organization’s responsibility to the common good. In the context of health care, distributive justice requires that everyone receive†¦show more content†¦1979 Cuba supports the Soviet Unions invasion of Afghanistan. Later, Cuba controversially sends military assistance to influence civil wars in Angola and Ethiopia. 1988 Anglo-Cuban relations almost reach breaking point after a Cuban diplomat fires a gun in a crowded London street. Havana claimed that its attache was being followed by CIA agents plotting to force him to defect. The Thatcher government condemned the behaviour of the Cuban diplomat and added that a man was wounded - he was a member of the British security services and not the CIA. 1992 The US tightens its longstanding embargo on Cuba, extending restrictions on travel and trade with the Cuban Democracy Act. Fearing a collapse, Castro slowly begins to deregulate Cubas economy, moving to allow limited individual private enterprise. 1999 A boat rescue of a Cuban child, Elià ¡n Gonzà ¡lez, sparks a diplomatic row with the US. The six-year-old boy was picked up off the Florida coast after he and his mother attempted to flee Cuba. After a protracted court battle, he was sent back to Cuba to live with his father, despite a high-profile campaign by wealthy US-based Cubans for him to remain. 2006 Fidel Castros health begins to deteriorate after abdominal surgery. He temporarily steps down and hands control of the government to his brother, Raà ºl. 2008 On 19 February, five days before his mandate is due to expire, Fidel finally announces his retirement and Raà ºl takes over as president. Read more:Show MoreRelatedThe Principles Of Distributive Justice2244 Words   |  9 PagesThe principles of distributive justice are deeply rooted in western philosophy. The concept includes the available goods, the process by which goods are distributed, and the resulting allocation of the goods to the members of the society. Since in every society there is limited goods the decision. Distributive justice is thought to be perceived as fairness in how both rewards and costs are distributed among members of the society. 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