Top Ten Reasons to Be Optimistic About Privacy

Abstract

Much has been written about the demise of privacy. There is no doubt that the notion of privacy has changed dramatically and continues to evolve. All, however, is not doom and gloom. While technology and societal changes have radically altered the environment in which privacy must survive, the same basic human needs and values continue to transform it into a new shape. Some of the momentum comes from the law itself, some from the business world, some from societal values, and some from new emphases in research. This paper will discuss the top ten reasons to be optimistic about the future of privacy.

Keywords: privacy, data protection, law and society

JEL Classification: K19, K29, K39