The First Amendment and the Right to Privacy

At issue in this discussion is the conflict of civil rights, specifically the individual’s freedom of expression and his right to privacy, a right which the panelists agree is implicit in the Constitution. Put more simply the debate is over the extent that the government can and should limit the legitimate use of information in order to protect the individual right to privacy. For the most part, the suggestions the panelists make concern the ethics and responsibility of data base managers and similar persons rather than the government. Mr. James warns, however, that the right to privacy has been subject to shifts in public opinion that often are reflected in the judicial system. close