Even staunch privacy advocates are concluding that it's impossible to protect personal data completely. The best hope for online privacy, they say, lies in legal safeguards that prevent abuse.

Even staunch privacy advocates are concluding that it's impossible to protect personal data completely. The best hope for online privacy, they say, lies in legal safeguards that prevent abuse.

The contest between individual privacy and government authority has been part of the American experience since its earliest days as a nation. Debate over the quartering of British troops in American homes and general writs of investigation by the Crown spawned two of the first ten Amendments to the Constitution. Over the last 235 years, innovations like telephones, automobiles, email and airplanes have shifted the landscape - but not importance - of the privacy debate.

The contest between individual privacy and government authority has been part of the American experience since its earliest days as a nation. Debate over the quartering of British troops in American homes and general writs of investigation by the Crown spawned two of the first ten Amendments to the Constitution. Over the last 235 years, innovations like telephones, automobiles, email and airplanes have shifted the landscape - but not importance - of the privacy debate.

Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) protects everyone from arbitrary or unlawful interferences with their "privacy, family, home or correspondence." The international human rights community has begun the process of responding to the erosion of privacy rights that new technologies have facilitated. This report recommends that the U.N.

Article 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) protects everyone from arbitrary or unlawful interferences with their "privacy, family, home or correspondence." The international human rights community has begun the process of responding to the erosion of privacy rights that new technologies have facilitated. This report recommends that the U.N.

In the digital age that we live in today, we are constantly exposing our personal information online. From using cell phones and GPS devices to online shopping and sending e-mail, the things we do and say online leave behind ever-growing trails of personal information. The ACLU believes that Americans shouldn't have to choose between using new technology and keeping control of your private information.

In the digital age that we live in today, we are constantly exposing our personal information online. From using cell phones and GPS devices to online shopping and sending e-mail, the things we do and say online leave behind ever-growing trails of personal information. The ACLU believes that Americans shouldn't have to choose between using new technology and keeping control of your private information.

“Privacy is dead, deal with it,” Sun MicroSystems CEO Scott McNealy is widely reported to have declared some time ago. Privacy in the digital age may not be as dead and buried as McNealy believes, but it’s certainly on life support.

“Privacy is dead, deal with it,” Sun MicroSystems CEO Scott McNealy is widely reported to have declared some time ago. Privacy in the digital age may not be as dead and buried as McNealy believes, but it’s certainly on life support.

“Privacy is dead, deal with it,” Sun MicroSystems CEO Scott McNealy is widely reported to have declared some time ago. Privacy in the digital age may not be as dead and buried as McNealy believes, but it’s certainly on life support.

The digital age is launching an assault on privacy as we've known it. As social sites collect more and more data how will attitudes toward privacy change. And what can be done from a self-regulation, legal and end-user stand point to put more control back into the hands of consumers.

The digital age is launching an assault on privacy as we've known it. As social sites collect more and more data how will attitudes toward privacy change. And what can be done from a self-regulation, legal and end-user stand point to put more control back into the hands of consumers.

The digital age is launching an assault on privacy as we've known it. As social sites collect more and more data how will attitudes toward privacy change. And what can be done from a self-regulation, legal and end-user stand point to put more control back into the hands of consumers.

Law enforcement is taking advantage of outdated privacy laws to track Americans like never before. New technologies can record your every movement, revealing detailed information about how you choose to live your life. Without the right protections in place, the government can gain access to this information - and to your private life - with disturbing ease.

Law enforcement is taking advantage of outdated privacy laws to track Americans like never before. New technologies can record your every movement, revealing detailed information about how you choose to live your life. Without the right protections in place, the government can gain access to this information - and to your private life - with disturbing ease.

Law enforcement is taking advantage of outdated privacy laws to track Americans like never before. New technologies can record your every movement, revealing detailed information about how you choose to live your life. Without the right protections in place, the government can gain access to this information - and to your private life - with disturbing ease.

Snowden documents show agency is collecting billions of records on whereabouts of mobile devices

Snowden documents show agency is collecting billions of records on whereabouts of mobile devices

Snowden documents show agency is collecting billions of records on whereabouts of mobile devices

Civil liberties groups say the broad ruling, handed down by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Ohio, could have sweeping impacts on the Fourth Amendment privacy rights of the innocent as well as those suspected of crimes.

Civil liberties groups say the broad ruling, handed down by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Ohio, could have sweeping impacts on the Fourth Amendment privacy rights of the innocent as well as those suspected of crimes.

Civil liberties groups say the broad ruling, handed down by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Ohio, could have sweeping impacts on the Fourth Amendment privacy rights of the innocent as well as those suspected of crimes.