In the wake of intimate images of celebrites being published online by hackers, Dr Alan McKenna, Associate Lecturer in Law at Kent Law School, warns that personal privacy online cannot be fully guaranteed.
Dr McKenna comments: ‘The hacking of the Apple iCloud system and the subsequent posting online of large numbers of intimate pictures of celebrities such as Jessica Lawrence and Kate Upton are a reminder that in the technologically integrated world that we now inhabit, personal privacy simply cannot be fully guaranteed.
‘Whilst laws may exist to protect our privacy, the very nature of privacy is that once it has been violated, it is impossible for us to regain the specific aspects of our private life that have been intruded upon. So whilst the American FBI are currently seeking to identify the perpetrator(s) of the hacking, and that person(s) can expect a severe legal penalty, the personal violation to the individuals concerned cannot be undone.
‘This latest episode of a major privacy breach is of course highly embarrassing for Apple, although it has claimed the breach was not in fact as a result of any weaknesses in its own security systems. This may or may not be true, but ultimately however, we ourselves need to take some responsibility for our own privacy protection, and the best way to avoid such embarrassment is not to store such material on networked devices or systems.
‘Whilst many of us might consider ourselves technologically literate in our use of the devices that are a core part of our lives, we seem to remain novices in understanding the possible potential wider ramifications of their use.’
Dr McKenna’s research interests include the information society, communication law, information law, media, human rights, information technology law, international commercial law, data protection, privacy and asbestos-related issues.
For further details of Dr McKenna’s research interests and publications, visit his staff profile page.