Privacy Issues in Cyberspace

Question 1 · MCQ

Which of the following best defines Information Privacy?

a. The right to be completely anonymous online at all times b. Control over the flow of one's personal information, including its transfer and exchange c. The ability to encrypt all personal communications d. Freedom from government surveillance

Question 2 · MCQ

Which of the following is NOT listed as a category of private information?

a. Private communications b. Health and medical information c. Religious beliefs and practices d. Information about one's possessions

Question 3 · MCQ

Cookies that communicate your data to advertising agencies which share it with other online marketers are called:

a. First-party cookies b. Session cookies c. Flash cookies d. Third-party cookies

Question 4 · MCQ

Which tracking method is considered the hardest to block and leaves no evidence on the user's computer?

a. Regular cookies b. Flash cookies (supercookies) c. Device fingerprinting d. RFID tags

Question 5 · MCQ

The technique of extracting information from two or more unrelated databases and integrating it into a composite file is called:

a. Computer matching b. Computer merging c. Data mining d. Dataveillance

Question 6 · MCQ

RFID stands for:

a. Remote Frequency Identification Device b. Radio Frequency Identification c. Real-time File Identification d. Registered Federal Internet Data

Question 7 · MCQ

What is the PRIMARY goal of cross-device tracking?

a. To protect users from identity theft across their devices b. To link a consumer's behaviour across all of their devices, particularly for advertisers c. To synchronize a user's passwords across platforms d. To back up personal data to the cloud

Question 8 · MCQ

The Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P) was developed by:

a. The United Nations b. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) c. The Internet Engineering Task Force d. Google and Mozilla jointly

Question 9 · MCQ

Which of the following is a major privacy risk unique to biometrics that does NOT apply to passwords or credit card numbers?

a. Biometric data can be easily shared online b. Biometric data is too expensive to store c. Biometric data cannot be revoked or re-issued if compromised d. Biometric data is only stored by governments

Question 10 · MCQ

Which of the following describes computer matching?

a. Integrating databases into one central composite record b. Cross-checking information in two or more unrelated databases to produce matching records c. Scanning a user's browsing history to serve targeted ads d. Using cookies to remember a user's login preferences

Question 11 · True / False

Flash cookies (supercookies) can be deleted using normal browser cookie-clearing procedures.

Question 12 · True / False

Privacy is considered important because it is a necessary condition for other rights such as freedom and personal autonomy.

Question 13 · True / False

Device fingerprinting leaves a traceable file on the user's computer that can be detected and removed with anti-spyware software.

Question 14 · True / False

When a user provides information to one government agency, they automatically authorize that information to be shared with all other government agencies.

Question 15 · True / False

Cloud computing increases privacy concerns because both data and programs are online, and it is not always clear which law is applicable to the stored data.

Question 16 · Fill in the Blank

The term used to describe computer-enabled surveillance techniques such as video cameras and employee monitoring software is called __________.

Question 17 · Fill in the Blank

A __________ is a summary of the software and hardware settings collected from a computer or other device that can uniquely identify that device online without placing any file on the device.

Question 18 · Fill in the Blank

When organisations merge personal information about you without your specific authorisation, the __________ of your information has been violated.

Question 19 · Fill in the Blank

Under the principle of implicit informed consent, when companies inform users about data uses and the user does not respond, their silence implies __________.

Question 20 · Matching

Match each term on the left to its correct definition on the right.

Term

A. Dataveillance

B. Data Mining

C. Biometrics

D. RFID

Your Answer

Question 21 · Short Answer

List and briefly explain four ways in which cybertechnology has changed privacy concerns compared to the pre-computer era.

Question 22 · Short Answer

Explain the difference between first-party cookies and third-party cookies. Give one concern associated with third-party cookies.

Question 23 · Short Answer

What is data profiling and what are two potential harms it can cause to individuals?

Question 24 · Short Answer

What ethical obligation does an information professional have when they merge personal data from one database into another that the individual did not originally authorize?

Question 25 · Short Answer

Describe two advantages and two disadvantages of using surveillance drones from a privacy perspective.

Question 26 · Extended Response

Scenario: A retail company collects customer purchasing data through loyalty cards. They sell this data to a health insurance company, which uses it to deny coverage to customers whose shopping patterns suggest unhealthy habits.

Using concepts from the chapter, identify the privacy violations involved and explain which ethical guidelines for information professionals have been breached.

Question 27 · Extended Response

Compare and contrast computer merging and computer matching. Why might both practices be considered ethically problematic even if the data collected by each individual agency was gathered lawfully?

Question 28 · Extended Response

"Privacy is not just a personal preference — it is a social value." Explain this statement using at least three concepts from the chapter to support your argument.

Question 29 · Extended Response

A government proposes installing RFID chips in all national ID cards and embedding surveillance drones in all major cities. From a privacy standpoint, analyze the ethical implications of this proposal. Reference at least two specific privacy concerns from the chapter.

Question 30 · Extended Response

Why is location data from mobile devices considered particularly sensitive compared to other forms of personal data? Discuss the potential real-world harms that could result from unauthorised access to someone's location data.

Study Quiz

Term

Your Answer