The Importance of Privacy

What is privacy?

Privacy is the right to protect one’s own information from others or personal history from others. After 12 months of living our lives online, privacy is more important than ever.

Every time we sign up for online services such as emails, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms, we are putting a snapshot of our lives and personal information online for the world to see. This is why it is essential to have the right to have your information kept securely when signing up to these platforms, otherwise this kind of security, everyone would have access to your life. 

The Data Protection Act of 2018 establishes strict rules, data protection principles, that have to be followed. For example, that data is used fairly, lawfully and transparently. Furthermore, this enables people to have the rights to be:

·       Informed how data is being used

·       How personal data is being access

·       How the data is erased

·       How to stop or restrict the processing of your data etc.

Without this piece of legislation in place our data is at risk. 

What about GPDR?

There is also General Data Protection Regulations 2018 (GDPR). These regulations were set by the European Union and similarly to the data protection act there are strict rules put in place to protect people’s privacy and security of their personal information. If these rules are not followed there are very harsh fines for non-compliance. 

Social Media

When using social media and for example, posting images of yourself or others if the account is public, the chance is that they will always be there even though you may delete the images from your account. This is why privacy is essential in social media as having the opportunity to keep your account private allows you to control, to a certain extent, what goes onto the internet, and what others are allowed to see. 

Tenant Privacy

When you are renting a house, the landlord is required to ensure that any information provided by the tenant, is protected. The contract put in place that once you are renting a property from a landlord means the landlord cannot come into the dwelling whenever they please or come into your house when a tenant is not home. Unless they have scheduled an appointment with the tenant, there is no reason for them to be there. They cannot take photos of the tenant’s belongings during a viewing or a property inspection, without the tenant’s written permission. This is a type of course related to privacy because it protects the tenant and their belongings, even if the landlord has a keep for maintenance reasons. 

It is important to understand, that even personal information that appears on a tenancy agreement is strictly protected under GDPR, therefore the information cannot be given out. 

Guarantors

When sharing houses with people, for example, at university, you may need to have a Guarantor. This is a person who has agreed to pay your rent for you if you cannot, for instance your parents. The Guarantor’s details cannot be shared with four other Guarantors and five students unless it has permission is given in writing. This enables Guarantors to maintain their privacy unless they have authorised otherwise. 

 Alyssia Sableski - Intern