Regulation in an Era of Surveillance and Other Threats to Privacy

Abstract

Given the dramatic rise in the mechanisms through which governments, private industry, and other interests can access, gather, analyze, and employ information on citizens, we offer a theory of coevolving disruptions in the technological, business, and policy spheres. We then consider competing conceptions of privacy in a world of ever-evolving norms; we also assay public opinion on matters of surveillance and privacy focusing on points of consensus and conflict. We find that public opinion on privacy matters is a more complex phenomenon than most regulation scholars may assume. Finally, we consider theoretical guideposts for policy actors in their attempt to reconcile public demands for privacy with competing interests.

Keywords: Privacy, Surveillance, Regulation, Public Opinion

JEL Classification: H10, K10, K20