Does Privacy Matter? How much?

Post Date

Sun, 02/21/2016 - 19:32

Tags

Apple; Privacy, Terror;

Technology continues to intrigue me.

I make no living in the field but it certainly help me in terms of efficiency, access to the information I keep and need, getting my thoughts out there, advocating for my clients and pushing back quickly when the need arises to challenge policies, programs, and proposals.

I also find it useful to promote my involvements, including Gotham's upcoming Battle of the Bands, April 17 at the legendary Cafe Wha? co-owned by Gotham member William Skody.

In a number of chats this past week both in person and via email, I shared my ability to code much of my own website and my preference to build it more or less from scratch as opposed to using templates (that the many great web designers in Gotham prefer).

I just enjoy it the same as I enjoy writing, messaging and strategizing.

Throughout this past week, I devoted more time than expected pondering the great question of the day.

Not whether the President should nominate a successor to Justice Scalia (I have shared my views elsewhere including on Gotham's Politics listserve which folks might enjoy, especially if they enjoy cable new programming.), but whether Apple must unlock the government phone used by San Bernandino terrorist Syed Rizwan Farook.

Raj Goel posted two interviews (FOX and WPIX) he gave this week arguing against Apple unlocking the device.

My technologically gifted son who taught his dad almost all the coding I know and wrote many programs throughout his undergraduate and graduate career that help him analyze data (and he uses some of the programs in his role as a Senior Research Scientist at a major public health research institute) also weighed in; Jonathan shares Raj's view but questions why a government that broke Nazi and Japanese codes in the Second World War (and probably many we know nothing about) seeks to press Apple on this task.

I know the implications for public safety; I also know the implications for freedom, and not just here in America but in repressive places such as China and Putin's Russia.

Do you have any view?

Please share your thoughts in the comments.

And special thank you to Don Bernstein for sharing his space today.

Comments

Fred Klein

NULL

Only Gotham members can comment. Too bad as this is a thought provoking post.

Corey Bearak

NULL

Had many hits on twitter. Who'd thunk? It's on Facebook. You remind me I need to post to LinkedIn

Tom Gallin

NULL

I think, as a society, we have finally reached this major crossroad. Not that I remember the exact details anymore, but I get a “1984” feeling when people speak of the government getting into our lives too much. I get a sense that I am not alone with this thought. However, we already knowingly give away a majority of our privacy via social media and agreeing to other “Terms and Conditions”. I also find it a little hard to believe that both Apple & the Government do not already have the means to unlock the phone. This is going to be a great debate that will hopefully provide a reasonable balance, not to mention a distraction from the ongoing Prudential campaign news coverage.

Paul Napolitano

NULL

I painfully and reluctantly admit that I completely agree with Apple's argument in this case. The government has no right to compel a private company or individual to create a software that can potentially destroy the faith of its customer base. There are several other good common sense and legal arguments on both sides, but to me, none are more dangerous to individual and economic liberty than that. That said, I'm sure there must be a commonsense way (that is a legally/constitutionally abiding) to work this out that no one has thought of yet.

Rona Gura

NULL

I find it fascinating that Apple took to its website to plead its case. I'm still not sure where I stand on this. I truly see both sides of this issue.

Nancy Schess

NULL

I am with Rona. This one is hard.

Cynthia Somma

NULL

Big brother is here....in the name of safety and security---I personally do not have a problem with this. Do I think it will breed into something bigger later on, yes I do--and I don't care. If we want to remain safe in this nation---something has to give.
This is from a person that cannot stand someone even touching her phone.