Beyond Privacy, the Control of the Citizens over their Computerized Lives

Par delà de la vie privée, la maîtrise des citoyens sur leurs vies informatisées [Beyond Privacy, the Control of the Citizens over their Computerized Lives]. Contribution to the New Technologies and Adult Education Workshop, organized by the work committee on news technologies and adult education of the Institut canadien d’éducation des adultes (Canadian Institute for Adult Education – ICEA) Montreal, April 8, 2003.

Abstract
The phenomenon of computerization of individuals’ lives and of their relationships with various public and private organizations is spontaneously associated the notion of privacy. But communication and information technologies infiltrate in all facets of the lives of individuals, organizations and society. Their implications are multiple and heterogeneous. Thus they cannot be covered by this single one notion. Sociologist André Vitalis expresses this in a concise formula: when technology is used to process the signs and meanings of society, “the object of data processing is social interaction”. Indeed, social interaction engulfs a reality, which is considerably much larger than the border protecting the individuals’ sphere of private autonomy.

This presentation explains how the privacy idea became the proverbial tree hiding the forest of issues and stakes arising from increasing computerization of our lives. We insist on the need for citizens to learn how to perceive this multitude hiding beyond this respectable concept of privacy.

Adult education should not only help to develop a culture of informatics that would make possible to the citizens to understand the phenomenon of computerization of their lives and of their society. It should not only help the citizens to learn how to harness the power of communication and information technologies. Adult education must also contribute to a renewal of democratic practices now needed because of the growing role of these technologies in the organization and regulation of relationships between social actors.

Such a program built upon a few basic notions:

Data processing materializes many relationships between citizens and other individuals, groups or organizations through the handling of objects called “information”.

Data processing is an effective form of legislation of interpersonal and social relationships.

Information items and their handling become objects, stakes and means in conflicts.

Citizens subjected to this type of regulation must have the occasion and the means of taking part in its development, just as they have been recognized the right to do so for the preparation and adoption of bills by legislatures.

The presentation discusses the roles that the citizens and the State, respectively, can play in this democratisation process as well as the conditions for success.

Entire Text (in French)