Privacy and anonymity is the ability of individuals and groups to determine for themselves when, how and to what extent information about themselves is shared with others. At its extreme, privacy becomes anonymity, which might be called for in some contexts but is dangerous in others. For example, discussion of a delicate subject might require anonymity, or at least privacy. On the other hand, anonymity could also conceal the perpetrators of criminal, terrorist or computer hacking acts.

Privacy in America: A Timeline from 1600-2008

In The News

Google accused of privacy law violation Privacy groups are accusing Google of violating California law in its reluctance to provide a direct link to its privacy policy on its homepage. Google Slashes Time it Keeps User Searches Google needs as much information about you as it can get to stay ahead of competing Yahoo and Microsoft search engines. Keeping tabs on users makes regulators, especially those in Europe, uneasy, prompting them to press Google and other search engine makers to justify why they monitor—and save—info on users' Web habits.
Confidentialty fears over records Doctors fear the computerisation of medical records could threaten patient confidentiality. E-care records safety fear raised More proof is needed that electronic personal health records are safe and effective, some doctors say.
Heart Stopper: Could Hackers Hit Pacemakers and other Medical Implants? Researchers warn that implantable medical devices could be vulnerable to cyber strikes Who's Keeping an Eye on Your Online Health Records? Google, Microsoft and other providers of Web-based services for managing health care information promise to keep it secure, but privacy policies vary from site to site Tougher laws needed to Protect Genetic Privacy In spite of recent legislation, tougher laws are needed to prevent insurers and employers from discriminating on the basis of genetic tests
Internet Eavesdropping:A Brave New World of Wiretapping As telephone conversations have moved to the Internet, so have those who want to listen in. But the technology needed to do so would entail a dangerous expansion of the government's surveillance powers. Big Brother Sees All in the Technological Fishbowl How much do technologies that affect privacy also influence freedom? Bush Signs Expanded Wiretap Power into Law President scores victory in effort to widen scope of federal government's warrantless recon power