Edward Snowden’s revelation that the U.S. government is collecting metadata primarily, but not exclusively on its citizens, has put the question of security, privacy, and transparency at the forefront of policy debates throughout the world. The rise of transparency can diminish privacy for individuals and groups. Nonetheless, polling shows that most citizens are not particularly alarmed. But will the November 14 attacks in Paris push European countries to embrace the surveillance state? The threat of terrorism throws into stark relief the struggle between the need for security and the right to privacy. Furthermore, calls for privacy rights have often been used to defend practices that are antithetical to an open society, such as racism and misogyny.
Members of the panel discussion:
Roger Berkowitz
Associate Professor of Political Studies and Human Rights; Academic Director,
Hannah Arendt Center for Politics and Humanities, Bard College
Rosa Brooks
Law Professor, Georgetown University; Bernard L. Schwartz Senior Fellow,
New America Foundation
Anja Kovacs
Director, Internet Democracy Project
Malte Spitz
German Green Party Politician
Ethan Zuckerman
Director, Center for Civic Media, MIT Media Lab