Security VS Privacy, Fight to the Death???

Happy Friday Folks!

Yesterday I stirred up a hornet’s nest with my post about losing privacy.  I enjoy stirring up hornet’s nests, because  it means my readers are learning something, questioning what is happening around them, and seeing the world in a new way.  I don’t write because I am bored, I write to educate, to get your attention to what evils are out there, and what it takes to secure yourself.

I am excited this morning.  The bout between privacy and security is always a good one.  In the Red Corner, you have Security, and in the Blue Corner, you have Privacy.

Ok, what makes this a debate?  Privacy and Security should go hand in hand right?  It does, except when it doesn’t… Ok, what I mean is that sometimes we have to give up some privacy to assist in our security.  I made mention yesterday of the massive amounts of security surveillance cameras that have gone up.  These are simply the cameras that belong to a city or a toll authority.  I didn’t mention ALL of the cameras that are strategically placed at facilities that are held by the private sector.  From my rough estimations, in the public sector, not including red light cameras, there are over 10,000 surveillance cameras in DFW region.  Of course, I did not contact every city, and a few notable towns told me to fill out a FOIA (freedom of information act) request to get that information.  Since I am not a full time journalist, getting paid to do this, I think I will hold off on the FOIA requests for now…  The use of these cameras is not to infringe on your privacy, as the intended purpose is to provide the citizenry with a higher level of security.  Privacy activists make claims that these cameras infringe on our privacy… they aren’t wrong, but they make the claim that cities should be required to notify us if we are being watched… What about the private citizen with a video camera?  They never make mention of these people, the guy who is recording the movements of his next murder victim!

Too Extreme?

Think about it, how many of us private citizens have a video recording device with us right now? Do you own a mobile phone built since 2010?  Then you probably have a video recorder.  You see, our rights to privacy are infringed all the time, and for the most part, we have no clue it has happened.

We have to find the happy balance between security and privacy.  When something is in your hands, you must take ownership of it, control it, and secure it.  Privacy is a double edged sword.  We have the ability to secure our information, which is creating a barrier of privacy for us.  This is how we can control our destiny of privacy.  The other side, the side we cannot control, is the side we need to fight for awareness of infringement.  I have found that more people are less angry when they are notified they are being watched, because they also know that criminals know they are being watched.  Don’t fight over the presence of security, fight for the right of notification.

Have a safe weekend, and remember:

Protect your information, protect yourself; Coffee is brewing people, it is time to wake up!!!