Information Systems in Management Science—Personal Liberty and the Computer

My first thought on the relationship between computers and personal liberty was that most writers on the subject were overzealous, and that there was no danger from computers being used to handle large amounts of personal data. I felt that, for one thing, having accurate records concerning an individual was as much of a protection to him as a threat, and that if better information were available, then better decisions could be made. Furthermore, if too much data were accumulated it would become unmanageable, and the individual would be protected by its sheer size. However, having read Arthur R. Miller's The Assault on Privacy (University of Michigan Press, 1971); Justice Douglas's remarks in Points of Rebellion (Vintage Books, 1970); the notes from the Senate Judicial Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights hearings on computers, data banks, and the Bill of Rights; and a number of newspaper articles on this subject, I am forced to change that view somewhat. The two dangers that I feel are most real are that an individual may be thwarted because of mistakes, and that large amounts of possibly embarrassing personal data could be made available to those who might misuse it.