Showing papers on "Privacy software published in 1987"

Telecommunications and computers: Whither privacy policy?

Abstract: T he emerging information age has raised fears of loss of privacy, fears that have thrust privacy front and center in the national consciousness. The tenor of most writing on this subject has been especially gloomy regarding the outlook for individual privacy. In this article I will show that while there is great public concern over privacy, including a fearful vision of the future, technological change may yet improve the level of personal privacy. Surveys of public opinion taken at different times and by different organizations demonstrate that Americans have a high level of concern over potential and on-going invasions of their privacy. A stratified random sample of 1,256 adult Americans surveyed in late 1983 by Louis Harris & Associates for the Southern New England Telephone Company (SNET) revealed that while there were strong feelings of optimism about what technology could do for society, there were also grave misgivings, especially about privacy. The survey indicated that 77 percent of people are worried that computers pose a threat to their privacy. This shows an increase.of 13 points over the 64 percent found in a 1978 survey. The number of people believing that personal information about themselves is being kept in files for purposes unknown to them has gone up dramatically, from 44 percent to 67 percent since a 1973 survey by the Harris organization. A majority, 55 percent, feel that "computers can make human robots out of workers by controlling every minute of their day." Forty-two percent disagree. The 1983 survey also tested people's perceptions of how imminent the type of society outlined by George Orwell in 1984 seemed to be: 87 percent thought it possible that "individuals will be threatened with disclosure of damaging facts about them"; 70 percent that the federal government will use confidential information to intimidate individuals or groups it feels are its enemies; 79 percent that "confidential information will be used to take away the privacy, the freedom and liberty of individuals and groups of individuals"; and 63 percent that "computerized information will be taken over by the federal government and combined with electronic surveillance of individuals to control the populations under a totalitarian state" in the United States. The survey briefly described the world of 1984 to the respondents: "virtually all personal privacy had been lost and the government--called 'Big Brother '--knew almost everything that everyone was doing." Twenty-nine percent of the respondents said that they thought such a society was either here or about to arrive, and an additional 40 percent said they thought it was somewhat close. Only 28 percent said they thought such a society was not close at all; 3 percent were not sure. The public at large is not alone in its concern over privacy. Surveys of leaders of various institutions also show a significant concern over issues of privacy. The sample of elite opinion taken for the SNET/Harris survey found not only much concern over loss of privacy, but strong support for laws that would increase personal privacy. Another poll, taken in the spring of 1986 by the Daniel Yankelovich Group, found that among the 245 elites questioned about the telephone industry, infringe: ments of privacy were the fourth most often expressed concern. More than two-thirds of the state and federal legislators interviewed supported laws to restrict the compilation of information on individuals. There clearly is broad public concern over the invasion of privacy and a marked degree of support for legislation to enhance personal privacy. To explain why the bleak fears of the public are unlikely to come to pass it is necessary to understand the roots of privacy--why it emerged and why it is important to people in terms of their concepts of self and their control over their own environments.

Commercial encryption

Abstract: The author discusses cryptographic privacy systems, in which the goal is to keep the content of the message secret. He describes public key encryption and offers some comments on its use. Factors affecting commercial use are examined. The author then describes the Data Encryption Standard (DES) and the impact of NASA's Commercial Commsec Endorsement Program algorithms on the DES. He concludes with a proposal for future encryption strategy.