The War on Privacy

In today's globalized society, the war on terror has negatively affected privacy rights not just in the United States, but everywhere.

When privacy rights are curtailed around the world, American efforts to spread freedom and democracy are hindered, and as a consequence, Americans are less secure in the world.

Ironically, the erosion of individual privacy rights, here and abroad, has been happening in the name of enhancing national security.

This book sheds light on this apparent contradiction, and recommends ways in which governments can protect privacy while shoring up national security and trying to protect their citizens against terrorist attacks.

Prior to September 11, 2001, privacy rights were in the works in the areas of legislation and regulation to protect personal privacy from both governmental intrusion and corporate penetration.

The need for such protections arose from the swift advances in information technology of the 1990s.

Now, not only is privacy no longer emphasized in legislation, it is steadily being eroded, raising significant questions about the handling of personal information.