The model for the internet was first invented in 1973 by two computer scientists named Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn. Cerf is often credited with being the “father of the internet”, due to the Transmission Control Protocols he developed to use with the idea of an interconnected network. Though first only available to the military, scientists and universities, the internet eventually expanded to the point that it was available to the public. Today, it’s hard to imagine the world without the ability to communicate, network and do research by using online services.
However, with the technological advancements of the online world, there has come to light an important debate. This debate highlights the delicate balance between security and privacy. Now, this debate is sometimes presented in reverse, with a lesser amount of privacy attributed to the freedom of information now available by searching online. For more information on this subject, you can check out “I’m Not Home, Please Rob Me!“, an article that brings to light how much information we really share by using social networking tools.
How Much Do You Value Your Privacy?
An interesting controversy has been recently presented regarding protecting homes, apartments and other structures from burglary. Landlords, co-op boards and condo boards are taking advantage of affordable security measures to install better security systems. This can include video surveillance cameras in common areas, keypad-entry points with each person having a unique code, or card-swipe entry systems.
“We are in desperate need of legal protections that regulate the use and potential abuse of private information,” – Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.
The debate ensues when you realize that these security measures allow administration to track what time each resident enters and leaves each monitored area. This information is not fully protected from being exploited or abused. This could allow landlords to monitor when a tenant lets in an unauthorized number of guests, brings a pet into a no-pets area, or uses the pool after-hours. However, it could also give them information which could be used to blackmail cheating spouses, track someone’s personal schedule, and watch video surveillance of people while they are in monitored areas.
Extra Security Measures
Some apartment complexes require their tenants to sign in and out when accessing their building. However, a few landlords are taking this one step further. For security reasons, some tenants are being required to present a photo ID, and may even be required to go through a metal detector in the future. Advocates of these measures say that they help protect residents in the building, while some people see this an invasion of personal privacy.
What Is Your Opinion?
Do you live in an area where there are security measures that you feel are violating your personal privacy? Or, do you think that enhanced security is the best way to protect against burglary and other crime in residential areas?
