Technology and privacy are two intertwined notions that must be jointly analysed and faced. Technology can be regarded as a social practice that embodies the capacity of societies to transform themselves by creating and manipulating not only physical objects but also symbols, cultural forms and social relations. In its turn, privacy describes a vital, complex aspect of these social relations. Technology influences people’s understanding of privacy, and people’s understanding of privacy helps drive technology development. Either policy-making takes into account this rich and nuanced interplay between technology and privacy or we run the risk of failing to govern the current, concomitant technology and privacy revolution.

New technologies can often be used in a way that undermines the right to privacy because they facilitate the collection, storage, processing and combination of personal data by security agencies and businesses. The rise of social networking websites such as Facebook, MySpace and Bebo, for instance, have led to a dramatic increase in the amount of personal information available online, which is routinely misappropriated for identity theft or other fraudulent purposes. Employers also mine these sites in order to vet prospective employees. RFID and biometrics can also be used in ways invidious to our privacy.

The use of these new technologies is changing the ways in which we understand privacy and data protection. It is not sufficient to look at privacy as only a legal or human right. It is necessary to reconceptualise privacy in ethical, social, cultural and other dimensions and to see how these different conceptualisations impact each other and how they can be bridged. We think part of the solution is much wider use of privacy and ethical impact assessments before new technologies or projects involving personal data are undertaken.

The PRESCIENT project aims to develop a common framework for privacy and ethical assessment. This is done in three steps.

The PRESCIENT project is conducting basic research by redefining the concept of „privacy“ taking into account the meanings developed in various disciplines and the impact of different emerging technologies.

The PRESCIENT project is developing a method for the assessment of ethical and privacy issues of emerging technologies. This impact assessment methodology will be based on the analysis of a small number of important scientific and technological developments.
The PRESCIENT project is providing strategic intelligence for stakeholders and decision-makers in government and industry by involving importants actors into the research process and discussing project results with relevant government bodies.

Status:
Laufend (01.02.2010 - 31.12.2012)

Auftraggeber:
European Commission, DG Research, 7th Framework Programme

Partner:
Trilateral Research and Consulting LLP, London, UK
Vrije Universiteit Brüssel (VUB), BE
Centre for Science, Society and Citizenship (CSSC), Rom, IT

Publikationen:
Friedewald, M. (2010): A new concept for privacy in the light of emerging sciences and technologies. In: Technikfolgenabschätzung - Theorie und Praxis 19, Nr. 1, S. 71-74

Friedewald, M.; Wright, D. (2010): Privacy, Data Protection and Emerging Sciences and Technologies: Towards a Common Framework. In: Bradley, G. (Hrsg.): Proceedings of the IADIS International Conference ICT, Society and Human Beings 2010, part of the IADIS Multiconference on Computer Science and Information Systems, Freiburg, Germany, 29-31 July 2010. Freiburg: IADIS Press, S. 219-222

Friedewald, M.; Wright, D.; Gutwirth, S.; Mordini, E. (2010): Privacy, Data Protection and Emerging Sciences and Technologies: Towards a common Framework. In: Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research 23, Nr. 1, S. 63-69

Schütz, P.; Friedewald, M. (2011-??): Privacy: What are we actually talking about? - A multidisciplinary approach. In: Fischer-Hübner, S.; Hansen, M. et al. (Hrsg.): Privacy and Identity Management for Life: 6th IFIP WG 9.2, 9.6/11.4, 11.6, 11.7/PrimeLife International Summer School, Helsingborg, Sweden, August 2-6, 2010, Revised Selected Papers. Heidelberg, Berlin: Springer (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, 352). (forthcoming)

Schütz, P.; Friedewald, M. (2011): Cui bono from giving up or protecting privacy? A basic decision theoretic model. In: Journal of Information Assurance and Security 6 (forthcoming)

Wright, D.; Gellert, R.; Gutwirth, S.; Friedewald, M. (2011): Precaution and privacy impact assessment as modes towards risk governance. In: von Schomberg, R. (Hrsg.). Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. (forthcoming)

Schütz, P.; Friedewald, M. (2011). Accountability of Data Protection Authorities. Paper presented at Privacy and Accountability 2011 - International Conference of the PATS Project. Berlin, 5-6 April 2011 

Deliverables:
Gutwirth, S.; Gellert, R.; Bellanova, R. et al. (2011): Legal, social, economic and ethical conceptualisations of privacy and data protection. PRESCIENT Deliverable 1. Karlsruhe: Fraunhofer ISI