Privacy, Public Space, and Personal Information

Abstract

In an attempt to capture the diversity of the notions and uses of the term privacy and to do justice to seemingly competing claims, I introduce a working definition of privacy and suggest a possibly fruitful approach. I then illustrate the approach by developing the relation of “private” to “public,” and their use with relation to the internet and cyberspace. Lastly, I argue that the threat to the general public with respect to personal information from commercial interests does not come primarily from infringement on privacy and is appropriately addressed by legislation covering specific harms or wrongs arising from the infringement.