Question

Through the use of online tools and search facilities, ordinary users can acquire personal information about others. As a matter of fact, anyone with internet access can use search engines such as Google to find out information about another individual. Sometimes, the person who is the subject of research is completely unaware that the information is publicly available. Does this use of search engines pose a threat to the privacy of ordinary people? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

Soln. There are several communities/group/individuals, that get the basic information of common people through different search engines and then use the information for some purpose. Most of the time, small firms collect the data for advertisement of their products and services but there are group of people that utilize the information for unwanted and illegal activities. Phone numbers and addresses are the common information that are available through search engines and then certain group of people utilize it for wrong objectives. Making the phone number and address available for everyone is definitely a threat to the privacy of ordinary people. After getting the phone numbers, certain group of people utilize it for wrong purpose and create threat to ordinary people. Similarly, availability of address to any one is threat to the privacy as any one can be reached through by wrong group of people. Even unwanted calls is a threat to the common people as it may also lead to severe damage. Calling some one wrongly with some wrong intentions, can lead to big damage. Making the availability of address for everyone creates the easy path for wrong persons to execute their negative intentions. Based on these arguments, availability of information through search engines is definitely a threat to the privacy of common people.