Security AND Privacy

Security versus privacy...

Which is more important? How much privacy are you willing to give up for security? Can we even afford privacy in this age of insecurity? Security versus privacy: It's the battle of the century, or at least its first decade.

That's Bruce Schneier, author of Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly About Security in an Uncertain World, writing in a commentary for Wired. He continues:

We've been told we have to trade off security and privacy so often -- in debates on security versus privacy, writing contests, polls, reasoned essays and political rhetoric -- that most of us don't even question the fundamental dichotomy.

But it's a false one. . .

If you set up the false dichotomy, of course people will choose security over privacy -- especially if you scare them first. But it's still a false dichotomy. There is no security without privacy. And liberty requires both security and privacy. The famous quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin reads: "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." It's also true that those who would give up privacy for security are likely to end up with neither.

We agree.

(Hat tip to Cory Doctorow at BoingBoing)

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics blog