Digital Citizenship and Surveillance| Compromising Over Technology, Security, and Privacy — Commentary

Abstract

The post-Snowden debates have often referred to an alleged trade-off between human rights and security that digital citizens need to negotiate, and to a balance that needs to be struck by policy makers. In this brief commentary, Gus Hosein problematizes the often uncritical discussion over an alleged balance between rights and security by addressing the recent conflict between Apple and the FBI over the encryption of mobile phones. He argues that an increase in privacy will also enhance the security of digital citizens.