Privacy and Surveillance … is it possible to have both?
Tuesday 29 April 2008
The audience will have a unique opportunity to discuss one of the most important issues facing 21st century society at the upcoming Annual Guest Night Debate of the Surrey Network of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) to be held at the School of Management Lecture Theatre, University of Surrey on Wednesday 14 May, 7.00 p.m.
This important high-level debate, titled ‘The Dilemma of Privacy and Surveillance’, is being chaired by one of the UK’s most eminent advisors on the subject, Professor Nigel Gilbert of the University of Surrey, who holds a number of senior posts, and is Specialist Advisor to the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, which is inquiring into surveillance issues. Professor Gilbert was also, until recently, chairman of a working group at the Royal Academy of Engineering examining the technological challenges of privacy and surveillance.
Malcolm Dudson, IET Surrey Network chairman, said that although these issues have been at the heart of fiction for many years, they had become a real-life dilemma. "Huge quantities of data as well as sophisticated electronic surveillance are already with us, and apart from the risks of information loss, of which we are all now well aware, the sheer volume of material opens the door to serious misuse and crime."
One of the key issues to be discussed at the debate will include the ability of individuals to safeguard personal information as more and more government agencies and commercial organisations seek to use this information to combat terrorism, identity fraud and cyber crime.
This begs the question … is our privacy a right or a privilege?
Chaired by Professor Gilbert, the influential panel comprises four key players in the field:
- Jonathan Bamford is Assistant Commissioner at the Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK’s independent authority set up to facilitate access to official information and to protect personal information.
- David Birch is founder member of Consult Hyperion and well known for his ‘Second Sight’ column in The Guardian On-Line supplement. He is an expert on the impact of new information and communications technologies.
- Tom Ilube, a director of on-line security specialists Garlik and formerly chief information officer for Egg.
- Martyn Thomas founded Thomas Associates, consultants in software engineering. He is also visiting professor of software engineering at the Oxford University Computer Laboratory.
The lecture is free but prior booking is required. For tickets please contact the University of Surrey Education Liaison Centre on 01483 689376.
Media Enquiries
Peter La, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 689191, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
