15-508 / 17-801 / 19-608: Privacy Policy, Law, and Technology

Homework 1 - due January 15, 2004

Reading assignment: Garfinkel 1,2; Agre and Rotenberg Introduction, 1, 2

1. 1. Make a one-page "collage" by photocopying the contents of your wallet on a single sheet of paper. You may "edit" your collage by leaving out items or by blacking out information on items you do include. Your collage will be passed around the classroom for your classmates to see and turned in for grading.
2. 2. In Chapter 1, Garfinkel gives several examples of what he means by privacy. Think about these examples and give two examples of what privacy means to you.
3. 3. Chapter 2 of Agre and Rotenberg discusses some of the privacy issues associated with video cameras in public places. The CMU Data Privacy Lab has setup a website where you can view public web cams. Take a look at some of these web cams and think about their implications. Why is a sign notifying individuals of a web cam not a completely satisfying solution to privacy protection?