How Our Personal Right to Privacy is Being Impacted By Big Government Databases

How Our Personal Right to Privacy is Being Impacted By Big Government Databases

Everyone has a right to be left alone . This also includes the preserve to choose whom personal information will be disclosed . However , with vast amounts of personal information held on government databases access to such private information is no longer controlled by the individuals to whom these details belong . Government databases ensure easy access to personal information and this is a blatant violation of privacy . In an ideal situation , access to personal information held on government databases should

be given to the individual involved and the government personnel handling the information . However , this is not usually the case . Furthermore , access to personal information on these government databases might broken by unauthorized people using sophisticated computer programs and techniques . Government databases may be useful but they are an easy route to personal information . Without these databases such personal information would remain safe

In the course of administration , government offices may require personal information from individuals . This information is useful in providing services to citizens such as social benefits , health , pension , social security , criminal justice , etc . This information is often revealed in confidence to the relevant government agency . Once this information is gathered especially online , a database is created . For efficiency , these databases are often in electronic form and accessed online . Government databases serve many useful purposes especially tracking criminals Woodward (2003 ) writes about the uses of databases in tracking criminals and terrorists . With government databases personal information that...