Writing in their famous Harvard Law Review article of 1890, Louis Brandeis and Samuel Warren asserted what many have considered one of the most cherished American values: the "right to be let alone." Yet in this post-9/11 world, it seems that personal privacy is under siege. New threats to privacy have arisen in the face of competing social, political, and economic demands, rapid technological change, and an intrusive and voyeuristic mass media. Citizens are barraged on a daily basis with stories of corporate data mining, government surveillance programs, identity theft, and computer hacking of personal information. As a result, citizens are becoming increasingly concerned about their personal privacy as well as their privacy rights. This encyclopedia, the first of its kind, comprehensively overviews various aspects of privacy throughout U.S. history, including significant legal cases, events, laws, organizations, individuals, technology, and terms. With some 225 alphabetically arranged entries written by more than 100 leading scholars and experts in the field, this inclusive and authoritative work will appeal to those interested in both historical and contemporary notions of privacy in the United States. Readers will learn of the significance of technology in today's society, its helpful and harmful effects on citizens' privacy, and what to expect in the future. Entries Include: Abortion Anti-Wire Tap Statutes Biometric Identifiers Carnivore COINTELPRO Data Brokers DNA and DNA Banking Freedom of Information Act Global Positioning Satellites Identity Fraud Library Records National Identification Card Open Meeting Laws Privacy Torts Right to Be Let Alone Search Warrant Social Security Number Telecommunications Act of 1996 Telemarketing United States Postal Service USA Patriot Act Workplace Privacy And Many More. Entries cite print and electronic resources, and the Encyclopedia closes with a listing of books, organizations, websites, films, and other sources of information. FEATURES AND BENEFITS: Includes some 225 alphabetically arranged entries written by more than 100 expert contributors. Cites print and electronic resources for student research. Covers a broad range of legal, political, social, and economic issues. Focuses on current concerns. Supports the social studies curriculum by helping students understand the evolution of the right to privacy, the threats to privacy in contemporary America, and the ethical issues surrounding technology in the modern world.

Hardcover.