NCJ Number
54201
Date Published
1979
Length
357 pages
Annotation
INFORMATIONAL, TECHNOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF PRIVACY ARE CONSIDERED, AND GUIDES TO HELP CONSUMERS PROTECT THEIR RIGHT TO PRIVACY ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
COMPUTERS HAVE BECOME AN EASIER WAY TO GATHER, STORE, AND ORGANIZE INFORMATION NEEDED FOR MORE PERSONAL INFORMATION BY GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS. DIFFERENT LAWS AND PRINCIPLES HAVE EMERGED WITH THE ADVENT OF COMPUTERS, IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL PRIVACY PROTECTIONS AVAILABLE TO AMERICAN SOCIETY. COURTS HAVE TRADITIONALLY RECOGNIZED THE RIGHT OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO RECOVER DAMAGES WHEN PRIVACY IS INVADED IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: INTRUSION ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S SOLITUDE; PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF EMBARRASSING PRIVATE FACTS ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL; PUBLICITY THAT PLACES AN INDIVIDUAL IN A FALSE LIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC; AND THE USE OF A PERSON'S NAME OR IMAGE BY ANOTHER FOR PROFIT REASONS. LAW AND PRINCIPLES RELATED TO THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPUTERS, THAT MUST BE UNDERSTOOD BY CONSUMERS, CONCERN SUCH ASPECTS OF PRIVACY AS (1) INFORMATIONAL PRIVACY (BANK RECORDS, CRIMINAL RECORDS, CONSUMER CREDIT BUREAUS, CONSUMER INVESTIGATIONS, EMPLOYMENT RECORDS, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FILES, INSURANCE RECORDS, MAILING LISTS, MEDICAL RECORDS, PRIVILEGES, SCHOOL RECORDS, SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS, STATE GOVERNMENT FILES, TAX RECORDS, AND TELEPHONE PRIVACY), (2) TECHNOLOGICAL PRIVACY (COMPUTERS, ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE, FINGERPRINTING, LIE DETECTION, AND VOICE COMPARISONS), (3) PHYSICAL PRIVACY (SEXUAL PRIVACY, MAIL, THE WORKPLACE, THE COMMUNITY, AND THE HOME), AND (4) PSYCHOLOGICAL PRIVACY. NOTES AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)