Media Law Assignment

Read Daniel Solove’s “Why Privacy Matters Even if You Have ‘Nothing to Hide’” (I will upload it later). Solove’s argument suggests that there is a substantial social detriment to individuals forgoing their privacy. Of the four privacy torts, which would be most applicable to the surveillance Solove discussed? In some detail, explain his criticism of “nothing to hide” and the general public misconception of privacy. Do you find Solove’s stance compelling? Do you agree or disagree with it? Explain your position.

Consider your own experience. Name at least five instances of surveillance in your own life. These could be old fashioned (e.g., a local cop patrolling your street) or more contemporary and technologically forward (e.g., stingray phone tracking). Rank the five instances 1-5 (1 being “Not the least bit concerning.” and 5 being “This is dystopia. I’m going to live in a cave now.”) and provide an understanding of your thinking.

Discuss your beliefs about personal privacy going forward. Is it something to be truly concerned about, or is it primarily the anxiety of sci-fi enthusiasts and civil rights lawyers? Do you trust corporations and the government to use collected information predominantly for good or commercial purposes? Do you think you’ll take any actions in the future to protect your privacy, or is data collection inevitable and not to be worried about?

Complete your response in 600-1,200 professional words. Submit a Word document with 1″ margins, use 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Informal citation (e.g. “According to…”) is acceptable, but attribution should be clear.