Understanding Privacy: On the nature and value of privacy

Abstract

As information technologies continue to rapidly develop, the discussion regarding privacy is becoming increasingly more important. When we speak of privacy, we are actually simply referring to the ability to control our own personal information; to be able to determine who possesses what information about ourselves. This description by itself does not provide any intrinsic value to privacy at first glance. But privacy is something necessary for some key aspects of human life. One such aspect is intimate relationships; without privacy our ability to have meaningful intimate relationships becomes limited. But the value of privacy cuts deeper to the human experience. Without privacy, our ability to act fully autonomously or live a flourishing life becomes severely hampered or outright impossible.