Editorial: The balance between transparency and privacy
Government that is transparent builds trust. If citizens know what public servants are doing on their behalf, democracy can thrive. But with that, if a government willfully or unknowingly shares too openly what has been deemed private information about those citizens, their individual rights can be jeopardized.
Therein lies the tension between our right to know and our need for privacy. Do we sacrifice personal security in order to free up the public records we’re entitled to? Does potentially rooting out corruption trump staying safe from identity thieves? Finding balance between these often-conflicting values is an ongoing challenge for policymakers.
In an Information Age complicated by a severe economic downturn, government has never seen such scrutiny by the governed. Sunshine laws coast to coast have expanded. In Illinois, efforts for more transparency continue, but the climb toward complete openness is far from the summit.
State and local units providing public information have the additional responsibility of protecting individuals, but, as agencies grapple with changing technologies, breaches have occurred. Such was the case last week when a state auditor discovered that personal data like Social Security numbers and medical records were readily available through basic searches on the Illinois Commerce Commission website.
Auditor General William Holland told The Associated Press that officials identified “a significant amount of unprotected personal confidential information” from consumers filing complaints about utilities. He added that state law appeared to have been violated.
In another instance, though not technology related, a driver wanted to sue Palatine over personal information printed on a parking ticket that was left on his windshield for hours in public view. The federal judge who reinstated the lawsuit last week said that including the man’s driver’s license number, date of birth and address on the ticket infringed on his privacy and even could increase the odds of him becoming a crime victim. The court said driver privacy laws were violated.
Where we draw the legal lines between transparency and privacy is a constant tug-of-war. Openness makes our leaders accountable and voters more informed. The trust it breeds must be maintained even as the ease of accessing personal information increases.
ICC officials have worked to restore the integrity of their complaint system. The online form now includes a warning that personal information should not be included — and that’s a reminder we must watch out for ourselves, too. Vary your passwords. Read the fine print. Learn the signs of online scams. And don’t give your full name, address or other information to anyone online you don’t trust or know in person.
Meanwhile, we’ll continue our applause as governments and agencies take steps toward transparency. Those that do so without exposing citizens to potential harm deserve a hearty round.