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Privacy is being free from the presence or view of others and unsanctioned intrusion.
Privacy issues have become an increasingly significant factor in people’s lives, especially when it comes to the internet and meeting new people. This is because of many factors, some including HyperText transfer protocol (HTTP), fraud, technology, personal information and Spam.
Through the use of cookies, HTTP and browsers your personal information and activities can be obtained without your knowledge or consent. The HTTP is a set of rules that websites and browsers follow in order to communicate. When requesting a web page, other information, including your e-mail address and the last web page you looked at, may be sent. There have also been many reports of security bugs in browsers which have enabled hackers and websites to access personal information while on the web. Australian Government, 2005.
Fraud can take place through online shopping and e-commerce, with individuals being able to buy products online without having to leave the comfort of their home. However things can go wrong, with computer problems and poor computer service, being cheated by cyber-crooks. Through the use of secure websites fraud and cyber-crooks are unable to breach the privacy because the secure website uses encryption technology, with scrambles the information preventing hackers from obtaining it. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, 2005.
With the increasing use of online dating sites and advances in technology to join people together, consumers need to carefully read the companies privacy policies. Each online dating website contains a privacy policy and describes in great detail all the information the website gathers and explains why it’s gathered and everything else that happens to the information. There are also some legal documents located on online dating websites for further information for consumers.
The issue of children’s privacy has come to a read, with 90% of school age children having access to computers at home or school. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, 2005. Parents, teachers and guardians however cannot always prevent children from visiting inappropriate websites that contain harmful or objectionable content, including pornography, profanity and hate speech. This kind of information can be censored through programs such as NetNanny and CyberSitter, which block websites.
Children and chat rooms are also a concern because chat rooms and instant messaging become increasing popular with young people.
An area that is relevant to the privacy of adults as well as children online is chat rooms. Chat rooms and instant messaging have become enormously popular with internet users, who like to meet new people online, for friendship or even love. Problems can occur when children are not properly informed on what information to give and what not because chat rooms include being asked passwords, personal information, including their name, address, phone number. Chat rooms are also ripe with profanity, inappropriate advances and adults visiting children’s chat rooms. Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, 2005. The danger of being asked or leaving identifiable information in chat rooms can mean privacy invasion, knowing who they are, their email address and other personal information. All which can lead to bigger issues such as fraud and Spam.
There are many other issues concerning online dating and privacy which are concerning. Online dating sites ask very personal questions such as your yearly income, which some consumers are not comfortable with giving. Ultimately it is up to the consumer to inform themselves of the risks of giving personal information out online and whether they wish to continue using online dating as a means of meeting new people. Jessica O'Connor 11:45, 27 Oct 2005 (EST)
Online Dating - Misconceptions
Australian Government, 2005, Protecting your Privacy on the Internet, The Office of the Privacy Commissioner, http://www.privacy.gov.au/contact/index.html (accessed September 20, 2005)
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, 2005, Children's Privacy and Safety on the Internet: A Resource Guide for Parents, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs21-children.htm (accessed September 20, 2005).
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, 2005, E-Commerce and You: Online Shopping Tips, Identity Theft Resource Centre, http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs23-shopping.htm (accessed September 20, 2005).
Jessica O'Connor 11:47, 27 Oct 2005 (EST)
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