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Privacy in the Public Eye - Frogs Boiling and the Right to Privacy

Milton Heumann

Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Rutgers University—New Brunswick.

Dylan Serrentino-Mullins

Truman Scholar, currently participating in Truman-Albright Fellowship. B.A. Rutgers University—New Brunswick, 2021.

Jessica Graham

J.D. Candidate, Harvard Law School, Class of 2023. B.A. Rutgers University—New Brunswick, 2020.

Eric Fecso

B.A. Rutgers University—New Brunswick, 2021.

Jessica Han

Masters Student, London School of Economics, Class of 2022. B.A. Rutgers University—New Brunswick, 2020.

Anar Murji

B.A. Rutgers University—New Brunswick, 2021. All of the authors would also like to acknowledge contributions from Lance Cassak and Kyle Morgan. This research was supported in part by funding from the Kneller Fellowship of Rutgers University. Correspondence concerning this Article should be addressed to Prof. Milton Heumann, Department of Political Science, Rutgers—The State University of New Jersey, 89 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1411. Contact: [email protected].

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  1. Privacy in the Public Eye - Frogs Boiling and the Right to Privacy

This paper presents a qualitative study, consisting of six focus groups organized according to the age of participants, on public attitudes surrounding the right to privacy. Several major findings emerged from these focus groups, including qualitative evidence that suggests that age does not play a major role in respondents’ attitudes toward privacy. Based upon these findings and other patterns in respondents’ attitudes, we advance a theory that relates people’s opinions on the value of privacy within society writ large to their perceptions of an individual’s ability to protect his or her personal information. Finally, we conclude by speculating about a new conception of privacy—one that may comport with a world where the pace of technological innovation is extraordinary.

  • I. INTRODUCTION
  • II. BACKGROUND
  • III. RESEARCH DESIGN
  • IV. FOCUS GROUP FINDINGS
    • A. Age Rejected: The Dog That Didn’t Bark!
    • B. Protecting Privacy and Terms of Service Agreements: Reality or Illusion?
    • C. The Role of Government and Corporate Giants: Trust and Tradeoffs
  • V. THE RESIGNATION CURVE: PROFILES IN PRIVACY
    • A. The Defeatists: Privacy Is an Illusion!
    • B. The Futurists: Embrace the New World!
    • C. The Pragmatists: The Future of Privacy is . . . Different!
  • VI. CONCLUSION: REFRAMING PRIVACY’S MEANING
    • A. Condition vs. Choice: The Privacy Paradox
    • B. What’s the Point? The Purpose of Privacy
  • APPENDIX A: GENERAL SCRIPT/QUESTIONS FOR FOCUS GROUPS
  • APPENDIX B: RESPONDENTS’ ONE-WORD DESCRIPTIONS OF PRIVACY IN - THE FUTURE

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