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Nature:

The recording of information about specific Internet activities has become one of the biggest emerging threats to Internet privacy. Every time a user accesses a web page, the server holding the page logs the user's Internet address along with the time and date. Some sites place "cookies" on a users machine to help track people's activities at a much more detailed level. Others ask for the users name, address and other personal details before allowing access. Internet purchases are similarly recorded. On-line stores value such data very highly, not least for the potential to sell the data on to marketers and other organizations. Some technical solutions have been devised to counter such activities. "Anonymizing" software allows users to browse the Web without revealing their Internet address. "Cookie cutter" programs stop sites from putting cookies on a users machine, and are now built into most browsers. Anonymous digital cash lets consumers make payments without revealing their identity.

Incidence:

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), having made efforts to put a large amount of information on its web site, asserts in its online privacy notice that "Cookies are not enabled on this site and no information is collected to personally identify you." However, EPA's Environmental Data Registry web site was designed to set cookies on users' hard drives. Of greater concern is EPA's Terminology Reference System. Currently, this site will not only set cookies but its data download option requires users to provide their name, organization, email address, and phone number. If a user does not fill in a blank, it will not download the information. EPA's policy is clear. Other than collecting an email address to respond to a direct request, no personally-identifiable information is collected.

Broader Problems:

Invasion of Internet privacy

Problem Type:

G: Very specific problems

Date of last update

04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST

About the Encyclopedia

The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is a unique, experimental research work of the Union of International Associations. It is currently published as a searchable online platform with profiles of world problems, action strategies, and human values that are interlinked in novel and innovative ways. These connections are based on a range of relationships such as broader and narrower scope, aggravation, relatedness and more. By concentrating on these links and relationships, the Encyclopedia is uniquely positioned to bring focus to the complex and expansive sphere of global issues and their interconnected nature.

The initial content for the Encyclopedia was seeded from UIA’s Yearbook of International Organizations. UIA’s decades of collected data on the enormous variety of association life provided a broad initial perspective on the myriad problems of humanity. Recognizing that international associations are generally confronting world problems and developing action strategies based on particular values, the initial content was based on the descriptions, aims, titles and profiles of international associations.

About UIA

The Union of International Associations (UIA) is a research institute and documentation centre, based in Brussels. It was established in 1907, by Henri la Fontaine (Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 1913), and Paul Otlet, a founding father of what is now called information science.

Non-profit, apolitical, independent, and non-governmental in nature, the UIA has been a pioneer in the research, monitoring and provision of information on international organizations, international associations and their global challenges since 1907.

www.uia.org

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About the Encyclopedia

About UIA