Harms and Benefits of Privacy

Ethics for the Information Age
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Ethics for the Information Age
Harms and Benefits of Privacy
Privacy describes an individual's defined zone of inaccessibility, with the overriding premise being that one should have maximal control over whom they allow to enter their zone of inaccessibility. Notably, there are harms and benefits associated with privacy.
On the one hand, some point out that privacy can harm society in as much as some people take advantage of privacy to plan and engage in illegal and immoral activities. To this end, it is suggested that the cover of privacy offers unscrupulous individuals to engage in wrongdoings (Quinn, 2020). Privacy can provide a sense of anonymity, which can embolden individuals to engage in illegal or unethical behavior. For example, if an individual knows that their online activities are private, they may be more likely to engage in cybercrime or participate in illegal online marketplaces.
Further, privacy harms members of a nuclear family in the sense that the members of a nuclear family are expected to maintain secrecy. Efforts to maintain the privacy of a nuclear family lead to unhappiness as one cannot seek moral support from relatives and neighbors. The harm of privacy to members of a nuclear family is exacerbated in cases where the family members must contend with family violence (Quinn, 2020). The respect for the privacy of the nuclear family means that members of dysfunctional families cannot receive the help they require owing to the need to maintain the pretense of normality.
Respect for privacy also harms the outcasts in society. Members of marginalized groups in society may find it hard to engage with others in instances where privacy is abundant. Given that human beings are social beings, the maintenance of a zone of inaccessibility may prove disadvantageous to the outcasts.
On the other hand, the role of privacy in the individuation of a person should not be overlooked. Privacy plays a crucial role in the development of a sense of self and personal identity. Privacy allows individuals to explore their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs without fear of judgment or interference from others (Quinn, 2020). It allows them to freely express themselves, make decisions about their lives, and establish boundaries. Without privacy, individuals may feel constrained and unable to fully develop their sense of self.
Privacy is also considered to play a role in facilitating the development of healthy relationships with others. To this end, privacy is considered the moral capital that people use to build intimate relationships with others. With privacy, one can easily control the aspect of their life that they share with various people. The lower the privacy between two people, the more intimate the relationship between the two parties(Quinn, 2020). If one were to eliminate privacy, there would be no means by which close personal relationships can be developed.
In conclusion, privacy has both its harms and benefits within society. Too much privacy can interfere with the socialization process, while its absence interferes with the process of individuation.
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