Transparency

At work I have been immeresed in developing a measurement for government compliance with proactive disclosure or transparency. The libertarian perspective on this has tended to conflict with that of the hardline transparency guys, atleast in the Indian movement. I am told the latest Indian Magsaysay Awardee, Arvind Kejriwal believes that even Doctors, Lawyers and other "professionals" should be subject to provisions similar to the Right to Information Act. Something libertarian inside revolts at that thought.

On a much (much) broader level, is the issue of privacy in the face of technological advancement. I remember reading Arthur C. Clarke's prediction for the 21st century, that privacy would suffer, because of more easily available surveillance technologies, and inspite of protests from civil libertarians. Over here I came across a link to a wikipedia article about The Transparent Society a book by another sci-fi author (I had never heard of before), who seems to undertake a thorough analysis of the issue, comparing the illusion of privacy mantained by a government monopoly on intrusive technologies, and the total destruction of privacy, through open access to technology and private information/surveillance.

Choices are always good, but one needn't like the choices at hand. I hate these choices. It is difficult for me to accept the proliferation of transparency as a fait accompli, but that seems to be the trend in technology, which promises to get more exciting, and useful, yet more intrusive. Perhaps a rare moment, when I am torn between my love of technology and my love of liberty.

Eventually, I guess I'll settle with the total destruction of privacy, but for now I enjoy what little I have.

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