CRM 6030G - Privacy and Surveillance in the Information Sharing Environment

Credits: 4

From security legislation instituted after September 11, 2001 to increased sharing of information via social networking sites such as Facebook, contemporary understanding of privacy and security is changing, sometimes at an alarming rate (as evidenced by the NSA leaks and reform in the past few years alone). This course delves into the complicated relationship between surveillance, privacy, and freedom in the security context. Students will examine the current understanding of these evolving concepts, the tradeoffs society makes for security, and whether these tradeoffs result in increased security. Students will discuss philosophical perspectives, technological developments, and institutional changes that surround controversies about privacy and surveillance in contemporary society. The course also allows for an exploration of public and private institutions conducting surveillance, how they calculate and manage risk, and the legal constraints on surveillance activities.