Digital privacy

The biggest tug-of-war on the internet right now is that between privacy and transparency. There is no doubt that the internet has brought tremendous transparency to industry and many areas that were previously obscure. One need only reflect upon the many criminals who have been apprehended by the authorities in recent years via the web, to truly grasp the power of the digital spectrum in this regard. It is certainly becoming more difficult for criminals and sinister enterprises to hide in the background without leaving any footprints, in the age of big data and the Internet of Things. However, this heightened level of global transparency has the capacity to intrude upon our privacy in ways unimagined. Even seemingly benign Social Media platforms like Facebook of Twitter can be used against individuals by employers or authorities, in view of inappropriate comments or content. While this is advantageous in some respects, it can potentially do more harm than good. Could the Internet of Things eventually become a global Panopticon? Could we eventually end up living in an Orwellian Big Brother state? These are questions that must be urgently addressed right now. Digital privacy is becoming increasingly important now in light of the digital audit trails we all leave behind. The video below is worth watching in regard to the issue of digital privacy and addresses the issue of quantum encryption. Quantum encryption may provide the answer to attaining better digital privacy levels, but other options must be considered too.