Digital privacy

Laws need updating to protect smartphone users

The world is seeing the dawning of the new Orwellian society where the Big Brothers ― governments, technology companies and potential hackers ― trace every movement of smartphone users. However, no parallel action has been taken to protect the privacy of the users of the digital devices.

Not surprising is the latest news that Apple's iPhones and iPads, as well as Google's Android platforms, have collected location information of customers. The question is why and how they use the information and what efforts they are making to prevent abuses of the information.

The location information enables marketers to chart lucrative business strategies. The data also enables law enforcement agencies to track criminals and terrorists. Users of the digital devices also experience value-added convenience in daily life.

A possible abuse of the information overshadows the potential benefits. Police and intelligence agencies may exploit the personal information to harass those they target. Hackers can take advantage of the information to embarrass individuals for unstated gains. Marketers could also commercialize the information to the point of infringing upon the privacy of users.

It is almost impossible for cell phone users to turn off the location-aware applications, namely the global location services and individual location settings. They can no longer live without using information on latitude, longitude, speed, direction and altitude of their applications.

Digital laws were enacted before smartphones made their debut. The laws need updating. Korea alone cannot update the laws. Updating the digital laws has become a global issue. Many countries, including the United States, Germany and the U.K. face the same legislative dilemma.

Too tight a legislation would discourage police from tracking criminals and terrorists and delay technological innovation and progress. Too loose a legislation might trigger abuses of human rights and infringement of private life.

There is no guarantee that the geo-location data is encrypted to preclude hackers' tracking people. Apple and Google claim that the location information is the choice of the users.

Apple and Google must seek ways of protecting digital privacy. This is necessary to preclude possible collective lawsuits from users. They must devise ways of not colluding with law enforcement agencies and advertisers.

Technology firms can collect, analyze and use the data only for the common interest of consumers and for statistical purposes. Anonymity of individuals must be guaranteed. Strengthened encryption is necessary to protect consumers against hackers.

A global consensus will make a breakthrough in protecting individual privacy without compromising the convenience of the devices.

Laws are not enough to protect digital privacy. Nongovernment organizations should play a watchdog role against abusive and intrusive governments, technology companies and hackers.

Uniformly protecting privacy or permitting easier government access is not a solution. How to balance privacy rights, public safety and encouraging innovations is the key issue that merits global debate. What is clear is that the existing laws have unintended loopholes. They must be updated for the always-on, location-enabled Web2.0 world.