"Do you know who I am?" Exploring identity and privacy

Abstract

Identity underpins and shapes privacy. This paper explores some of the points of intersection and issues that emerge in the identity-privacy nexus. Personal identity is at the heart of what it means to be human, and that identity is contextual and shifts subtlely over time. At an applied level, identity-related issues pose practical challenges for government and business in seeking to define and place controls over personal identity. Technology also raises both problems and solutions for personal identity. To what extent can individuals maintain control over their "digital shadow" – or is it just a case of what goes around, sticks around. A growing surveillance society and demands for increased security throw down some of the greatest challenges for privacy and identity management