Make a list of the situations in which Etzioni believes that there are issues of public health and safety that justify the invasion of one’s privacy. In each situation that Etzioni discusses, indicate whether you agree or disagree with his points of view.
In Amitai Etzioni’s article, he discusses how although privacy is not mentioned in the constitution, it is a right that Americans have. The media discusses how our privacy is becoming more and more invaded until we will eventually have no privacy. However, this is unlikely. We will have some privacy, but when it concerns the health and safety of others, invasion of privacy is acceptable. I agree with Etzioni on how less privacy is good for us. The invasion of privacy, I think, is helping the community by ensuring the people their safety.
Etzioni mentions how babies who are born from mothers with HIV can prevent from getting HIV; however, it will invade the mother’s privacy. “Women who are pregnant are recommended to get tested for HIV as part of routine parental care.” (Etzioni par 7) Although mothers do not want to get tested because they are afraid that they will have the disease, it could help prevent their child from getting HIV. “Mother’s who are tested positive are drug addicts and do not show up to prenatal care are often more likely to have HIV.” (Etzioni par 7) If the woman does have HIV, they can prevent the baby form getting the disease by not breast feeding and making sure the baby is given AZT. I agree with Etzioni that if more women took the test, it will prevent babies from getting HIV and that it betters the child’s health. Women are too afraid to get tested, however, when it becomes a health issue, more women should be willing to get tested instead of worrying about their privacy being invaded.
Another example o f invasion of privacy that Etzioni mentions is the use of fake identities. “Wells Fargo is introducing a new device that allows a person to cash checks at its ATM machines because the machines recognize faces.” (Etzioni par 11) This device will be beneficial to public safety because there are many people who are getting away with false identities. “People hired to work in child care schools cannot be effectively screened to keep out child abusers and sex offenders, largely because when background checks are conducted, convicted criminals escape detections by using false identities.” (Etzioni par 14)False identities are costing the United States billions of dollars each year and it is harmful to the society’s safety to allow it to continue. I agree with Etzioni on how the device will help prevent not all, but some false identities being made and it will ensure the safety of others. Although it is an invasion of privacy for someone who wants to move to the United States from a different country that did not have the best record, if the person openly admits they made a mistake in the past and will use their real identity, they will then be allowed to live in the United States. Again, more devices that can be made to ensure the safety of others should allow people to be more supportive of the project because it can prevent someone from getting hurt.
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Unlike you, I disagree with Etzioni's statement that less privacy is good for us. Citizens should be able to have there privacy and the government should not be able to find out everything about our lives. Although i agree that the HIV testing for new born babies is a positive idea, I believe it should be the mothers choice. I belive that people with minor criminal backgrounds should be able to change their names and forget their past. However i do agree with you when you say that child abusers and sex offenders should not be able to change their identities. Maybe in the future it should depend on the crime for whether or not a person can legally change their name.
ReplyDeleteWell this nation was founded by people who wanted to get out of the all seeing eye of a monarch. We always need privacy if we lose any amount of it we will begin to be scrutinized by all branches of the law. People often say they have nothing to hide, but often this statement is a lie. Everyone has something they do not want brought to light and that should be our choice of when and where it happens.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article, privacy has become a rather interesting topic of discussion. I am torn between two ideas of privacy. I agree that privacy is a very important thing and I agree with the above comment that everyone has something to hide. Yet I also agree that when it comes to the health of your baby against HIV privacy should not get in the way of the health of a child. I think in a situation with children and mothers with possible HIV, doctors should have the rights to check and inform the mother privately about the issue. That way it is up to the mother to decipher who else will know about the disease. Yes, the doctors will know, but they are there to help you and are supposed to be confidential.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Etzioni to some degree, that the invasion of privacy to make things a lot more simpler with the certification that it is for the better is alright. As long as some things are not publicized which is the major concern for some people, however that it is for the best for individuals. For instance, the Wells Fargo bank introducing the new device that recognizes faces, seems very beneficial nothing seems wrong with that innovation, if someone is trying to steal someone else's identity, this device can be very advantageous. So I agree with Etzioni, there shouldn't be a big deal about limited privacy if it is only known between the individual and the official. More benefits than humiliation will come from it.
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