Skip to main content

Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Nanotechnology Forum

In this forum, learners will discuss several nanotechnology application scenarios then deliberate in small groups and create a group response to the overarching question, "how can nanotechnology affect someone’s privacy"

DESCRIPTION

Every time we use a credit card, swipe a subway pass, or send an email we are sharing personal information about ourselves. Just how is the information used? How do we balance an individual’s right to privacy vs. community safety? What do you consider a civil liberty? And who ultimately sets these standards? This forum asks participants to consider and discuss several nanotechnology application scenarios and the possible opportunities, impacts, risks, and benefits. Forum participants will deliberate in small groups and create a group response to the overarching question, "how can nanotechnology affect someone’s privacy". Finally, each group will make a brief report to everyone on the group’s thoughts and recommendations.

JUMP TO BROWSE RELATED RESOURCES
  • stock image of a old model white webcam
  • stock image of a old model white webcam

DESCRIPTION

Every time we use a credit card, swipe a subway pass, or send an email we are sharing personal information about ourselves. Just how is the information used? How do we balance an individual’s right to privacy vs. community safety? What do you consider a civil liberty? And who ultimately sets these standards? This forum asks participants to consider and discuss several nanotechnology application scenarios and the possible opportunities, impacts, risks, and benefits. Forum participants will deliberate in small groups and create a group response to the overarching question, "how can nanotechnology affect someone’s privacy". Finally, each group will make a brief report to everyone on the group’s thoughts and recommendations.

JUMP TO BROWSE RELATED RESOURCES

OBJECTIVES

BIG IDEA

How can nanotechnology affect your privacy?

NANO CONTENT MAP

Nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanoengineering lead to new knowledge and innovations that weren't possible before.

Nanotechnologies—and their costs, utility, risks, and benefits—are closely interconnected with society and with our values.

Credits

YEAR CREATED
2010
OWNING INSTITUTION

North Carolina Museum of Life and Science

FUNDING

Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

PERMISSIONS

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).
View more details

DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.