These two terms are often used in conjunction or interchangeably with each other as they correlate, however, there is a difference in concepts between the two. The definition of internet privacy is a right for an individual to be free from undesirable interest and entitlement to personal information online. While internet security are protective strategies that are in place to protect data such as personal information from unauthorised access. Internet privacy cannot exist without security being present (Khillar 2018).
Why Privacy Matters (Arthur Chi'en 2017)
Besides the most key advantage of internet privacy being what it is which is the protection of personal information of users from being taken by unwanted online users, there are many other advantages (Gaille 2015). However, many consequences of internet privacy also exist including some that are both beneficial and detrimental. An advantage is the anonymity promoting feelings of freedom of speech and expression in which internet privacy provides. This makes people more open to do activities online like talking about things that may be embarrassing for the user as they feel safer knowing that their real-life identity is not known as their identity is concealed online (Joinson 2001). The anonymity is disadvantageous as well as there are people who do abuse the fact that they can insult others online, also known as cyberbullying, and remain unpunished as their actual identity is masked by the anonymity that internet privacy provides (Palme & Berglund 2004).
There are several security risks towards internet privacy, however, there are also many ways of minimising these risks (Raine et al. 2013; Technopedia 2018).
These are just some of the common methods of minimising privacy risks, there are many other techniques that can be easily incoporated into your online regime to help further secure privacy.
The future of internet privacy will most likely keep growing as technology evolves, whether it will still exist later on or not is undetermined. However, there are people who strive toward a future where privacy still beneficially exists. One example of this is the privacy-focused vision for social networking proposed by Mark Zuckerberg (2019). He believes there will always be a need for public social networks to allow people to connect with each other However, the future of communication will shift to services that are more private and encrypted. Over the next years Zuckerberg will construct services that revolve around the six principles, private interactions, encryption, reducing permanence, safety, interoperability and secure data storage. These principles entail a world where communication can happen between people privately and them knowing that personal information can only be seen by themselves and others who they allow and the communication logs will not exist indefinitely.
For more information on this privacy-focused vision for social networking, click here.