| The Power of the Word | | | | information linking can easily lead to personal |
| Preface | | | | exposure. E-profile of the individual which can be |
| In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was | | | | created from information on the Internet can offer |
| with God, and the Word was God. That's how John's | | | | more sensitive data than his own physical DNA, |
| gospel of the Bible begins. In the early days | | | | reflected in buying behaviour, consumption and travel |
| information was spread using words, and words were | | | | pattern. |
| surely important, as John's gospel demonstrates. It | | | | It can be said that a tension has been created |
| was not until Gutenberg invented the loose letters at | | | | between the interest of an individual for protecting |
| the beginning of the 15th century, that modern | | | | his privacy and the interest of companies making use |
| printing technology was discovered. The so called | | | | of personal information for business purposes. This |
| "forty two line Bible" which Gutenberg printed in 120 | | | | can possibly be solved by allowing people more |
| copies is sometimes considered the initiation of | | | | access to their own personal information and thus |
| modern printing technology. This was in 1456 and this | | | | helping them to manage its publication. It is vital to |
| technological novelty increased the possibility to | | | | allow people access to officially registered information |
| distribute information and increase knowledge | | | | regarding themselves and also ensure their access, to |
| considerably. A little more than two centuries later | | | | be able to correct wrong information and register |
| books had become a common media, but they were | | | | comments. People do also need to know who has |
| both poorly made and expensive. | | | | their personal information and for which purpose. |
| The first copyright law was published in the UK in | | | | Legislation on personal data protection needs to |
| 1709. The law was set as an encouragement to learn | | | | consider this and the fact that personal data is the |
| or as it is stated "An Act for the Encouragement of | | | | private asset of each person. |
| Learning". This first legislation on copyright was also | | | | The Internet belongs to us all |
| set to secure people's right to access books and | | | | In today's continuous flow of information it is |
| other information. Until that time people's access to | | | | important that the integrity of information is secured. |
| books had been hindered and thus access to | | | | In a lecture on January 21st 2010 on the freedom of |
| information was limited. During the French revolution | | | | speech, Hillary Clinton USA's foreign minister |
| in 1789 a statement was published on people's right | | | | reprimanded Chinese hackers for breaking into |
| which manifested the freedom of speech in particular. | | | | Google's computers, see: She used the phrase "the |
| Law on the freedom of speech was not set until the | | | | global networking commons" when comparing the |
| end of the 19th century. Until that time there was | | | | Internet as part of our existence as the sea or the |
| little need for this type of legislation, but it increased | | | | air. The Internet thus requires international |
| as books became more diffused and printed. | | | | co-operation to ensure the most sensible, correct and |
| Continuous flow of information | | | | save usage. Censorship destroys the Internet |
| Now when electronic information flows continuously | | | | communication. It not only destroys information |
| one may say that the technology has changed the | | | | reliability, it also hinders people to express themselves |
| purpose of the state and its relationship with its | | | | on the Internet. |
| citizens. The legislation follows the technology but | | | | The authorities might establish rules on correct and |
| quite often many years later. Sometimes data | | | | good ways of processing information on the Internet |
| networks have a different structure than appears at | | | | in the same way they do when putting regulation on |
| first sight, their reach is usually far beyond enterprise | | | | how to label food or code of practice on public |
| walls and the so called security perimeter is often | | | | health. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is |
| blurred. In fact the networks are international and the | | | | regulating free flow of goods in the world and that |
| information which flow in them is connected in | | | | organisation or a similar one could perhaps be the |
| various ways. Where the information is connected | | | | appropriate international authority to monitor flow of |
| internationally there is a need for international | | | | information, digital products and services. It will |
| legislation. | | | | however not be an easy task. If progress is going to |
| People say we have now entered the information | | | | be made in this direction, all countries need to |
| era but one may argue that it is in fact the era of | | | | acknowledge participation in international rules on |
| unlimited information flow. Yet there are changes in | | | | traffic on the Internet and they must be willing to |
| the way information is distributed, processed and | | | | enforce rules regarding Internet behaviour. |
| stored. One can now purchase software services like | | | | The end of privacy |
| one purchases electricity, heat and water. This is | | | | The German magazine Spiegel published on January |
| known as "Software as a Service" or "SaaS". | | | | 11th 2010 an article titled "Ende der Privatheit" or |
| Information security on the Internet | | | | "The end of privacy". In the article the author goes in |
| The administration of computer systems requires | | | | details through the changes on how people use the |
| expertise which is for many quite expensive. It is | | | | Internet and process information. Google is referred |
| more economical, simpler and even safer for many | | | | to as the digital empire with power and influence. At |
| organizations and companies to outsource the | | | | the end the author makes reference to the |
| administration of their information systems. Also in | | | | philosopher David Weinberger and his theory on how |
| this area there are changes occurring. Computer | | | | information gathering will in the end eliminate private |
| power and information storage is now available online | | | | defence mechanism which we have created, and |
| in so called computer clouds. The buyer of such | | | | create a new type of transparency on humans and |
| services does not necessarily know the location of | | | | issues. This transparency will in time destroy our |
| the service provision, in which country the | | | | sensitivity for personal data and the tension about its |
| information is stored and in fact he may not care as | | | | preservation. Weinberger's theory argues that when |
| long as everything works as it should. | | | | people know everything there is to know about each |
| It is clear that a need for international rules and | | | | other, embarrassing things stop being embarrassing. |
| regulations for information stored in computer clouds | | | | He predicts that transparency in the new society will |
| has emerged. While creating such core rules it is vital | | | | evoke forgiveness, when people realise that nobody |
| to consider the following security issues: | | | | is perfect. When everybody knows that nobody is |
| · The confidentiality of the information kept. | | | | perfect it will be easier to forgive. |
| · The integrity of the information i.e. the information | | | | At last |
| is accurate and that it has not been altered in any | | | | The word that is written in John's gospel is powerful |
| way or deleted. | | | | and is related to force and creation. The words we |
| · The availability of the information to users with | | | | usually use to distribute information about ourselves |
| access rights when they need it. | | | | and others are maybe not powerful as single words |
| · The traceability of the information is also important | | | | but a volume of words and information gathered for |
| e.g. when one needs to verify the source of | | | | storing permanently can surely affect our lives and |
| information due to legal actions. This is relevant for | | | | future. It will not be easy to start a new life and try |
| health records and financial contracts. | | | | to cover the past if Google and other similar services |
| · The decision on which data processing is | | | | continue to gather information on us. It is vital to be |
| permitted, e.g. what type of backup is used | | | | careful and be aware of the words and discussions |
| (encrypted or not), or which data can be merged | | | | published on the Internet because the power of the |
| with other data. It is also important to define which | | | | word is more than one may realise. |
| data process is prohibited. | | | | Svana Helen Björnsdóttir, CEO of Stiki |
| · Decision has to be made regarding the ownership | | | | Svana Helen Björnsdóttir holds a Masters Degree in |
| of the information. | | | | Electrical Engineering. She is a specialist in information |
| Personal data protection | | | | security and a Lead Auditor for Information Security |
| Protection of personal data is what people are most | | | | Management Systems (IRCA Certified Lead Auditor) |
| concerned with. People now reveal more personal | | | | which is based on an international standard ISO/IEC |
| information about themselves than ever before. | | | | 27001. |
| Social media does encourage this behaviour and | | | | References: |
| people are lured to publish all kinds of sensitive | | | | 1. U.S. Department of State: |
| personal information. When the data banks grow and | | | | 2. Spiegel, Nr. 2/11.1.10, Google - Der Konzern, der |
| the quantity of personal information increases, it will | | | | mehr über Sie veiβ als Sie selbst. |
| become easier to interconnect this information. The | | | | 3. The Economist February 27th 2010, a special |
| individual information items that at first do no seem | | | | report on managing information. |
| to be linked to an individual can easily be linked. This | | | | |