Why is it important to protect personal privacy from government surveillance?
Have our concepts of privacy changed? Historically, personal privacy has not been a constant in our social structure. In many tribal societies, there was very little opportunity for individual behavior to be hidden from public inspection. Even today, in small villages and towns throughout the world, it is difficult to establish a substantial zone of privacy. In authoritarian societies, privacy is rejected as hedonistic and immoral. It is also seen as dangerous to the regime. Authoritarian societies create procedures to watch and listen secretly to elite groups, and totalitarian governments keep extensive records on individuals, families, and all associational activities. By contrast, in contemporary democracies, the ability of an individual to have a zone of privacy has become important. It is the basis for the 4th Amendment prohibition against unreasonable searches. Individuals and companies can be liable for damages if they violate community standards regarding privacy. Public opinio
