The ethics of trading privacy for security: The multifaceted effects of privacy on liberty and security

Abstract

A recurring question in political philosophy is how to understand and analyse the trade-off between security and liberty. With modern technology, however, it is possible to argue that the former trade-off can be exchanged with the trade-off between security and privacy. I focus on the ethical considerations involved in the trade-off between privacy and security in relation to policy formation. Firstly, different conceptions of liberty entail different functions of privacy. Secondly, privacy and liberty form a complex and interdependent relationship with security. Some security is required for privacy and liberty to have value, but attempting to increase security beyond the required level will erode the value of both, and in turn threaten security. There is no simple balance between any of the concepts, as all three must be considered, and their relationships are complex. This necessitates a pluralistic theoretical approach in order to evaluate policymaking related to the proposed trade of privacy for security.