While contemplating my next blog topic about databases, I decided to google privacy issues and databases. My search returned quite a few interesting articles as expected. One article I found the most interesting was the very controversial subject of the use of massive databases for law enforcement applications. Everyone except these law enforcement agencies seem to be concerned with the potential problems that could stem from databases that are supposed to maintain data about criminals and facilitate efficient information sharing among all of our nation's law enforcement systems. There is much debate about the potential for abuse among members of these agencies, but more importantly the possiblity that all information entered into a database about individuals may not be verified as accurate and may do more harm than its proposed good. Many questions surround this issue as it relates back to our individual privacy.
Who will police the collecting, generating, storing, and dissemination of information? What safeguards, if any, exist to protect the innocent who may become victims of human errors with respect to managing such personal data? If there are any monitoring and controlling measures in place, how well are they truly being implemented? Are we really any safer if we give up our right to privacy in exchange for an even greater unknown? It is that unknown that we put into the hands of the agencies and systems that are supposed to protect us, yet continue to fall short daily. Will we feel any greater sense of security in our daily lives if we have these massive communicative efforts purported on our behalf when we know that life holds no guarantees?
Each day presents uncertainty for us all and despite the efforts to safeguard lives, we will not be able to prevent every instance of a crime. We may come close, but at what price? Is giving up our privacy and freedoms comparable to feeling secure in our environment? Can we truly feel secure in a world where we must give up what is ours despite where we may fit into society?
When I contemplate the possibilities that exist at both ends of the spectrum, I am always left with more uncertainty and questions. Initially, I read this article and the idea of one department of justice "OneDOJ (Eggen 1)" facilitated by massive information sharing seemed like a great idea. It spoke of unity of all the systems created to protect us and almost signaled an end to the bureaucratic divisions that too often have failed us due to insufficient communication and coordination. If I closed my eyes and dared to dream, then I could see it like the Justice League with Captain America and his Super Friends working together for the greater good. If only it were so simple, then the controversy may not exist. Unfortunately, life is only comical sometimes and quite different from the comic books.
Law enforcement and all of its systems are not super heroes despite their ability to fight crime. Generally, the comic book characters---the objects of heroism--- do not feel victimized by those who are trying to protect them. However, the same can not be said for innocent people victimized by potential errors in database systems that may lead to false accusations and arrests. As this article states, some information stored in databases is grossly inaccurate thus this broad-based information sharing is like putting trash into the system---data pollution to say the least. We may forget about One Department of Justice being akin to Captin America and the Justice League. We must instead, scrap the comic and go back to the drawing board for as long as we remain human there will be errors in these database systems. Thus, in this case it is basically "garbage in and garbage out(Eggen 1)".
"Justice Dept. Database Stirs Privacy Fears Size and Scope of the Interagency Investigative Tool Worry Civil Libertarians" (By Dan Eggen Washington Post Staff Writer December 26, 2006; A07)
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