Editorial December 10, 1979 Issue

Protecting privacy

GEOFFREY J. BARRATT

"Guarding the right to be let alone": a magazine headline points to a threat becoming more and more defined.

A plea for what is in effect invasion of privacy is sometimes made on the grounds that we live in an increasingly complicated society. Along with this, the collection and retention of personal data have been made relatively easy by the computer. Yet many people, understandably, resent any aggressive intrusion into their affairs by government, business, and the professions. The probing of their lives through overdetailed job applications, insurance forms, and so on, is often objected to.

The arguments for either more or less privacy can be strong and persuasive.

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