Hollywood Nude Photo Scandal Not a Matter of Morality

Published in The Beijing News
(China) on 2 September 2014
by Tao Duanfang (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Yuzhi Yang. Edited by Katie Marinello.
Hollywood’s recent nude photo scandal is worth noting not for its explicit exposure of female celebrities’ photos, but how personal information is largely exposed in the Internet age.

Recently, an American website exposed many Hollywood celebrities’ explicit photos, including those of the Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence, Kirsten Dunst, Rihanna and others. The tabloids have made the whole scandal even more salacious. Lawrence’s spokesman has confirmed the incident and expressed the intention to pursue those responsible via legal means.

Many nosy onlookers may focus on the explicit photos themselves, and some moralists also blame the female celebrities for their “bad behavior” or “not reaching the high moral standards of a public figure,” but what should be understood is the photos were all private photos of grownup celebrities. The stars did not want the photos revealed. Even if they were inappropriate, that is not the focus of the problem. The larger picture involved has nothing to do with the skin exposed, but the large-scale exposure of personal information.

The information age and the advancement of the Internet have brought unprecedented convenience to everyone, but at the same time, they also make people unwittingly connect more personal information to the Internet. Most people have some levels of consciousness about protecting their personal information; they know how to use passwords, firewalls, etc. to stop any peeping digital thieves.

With the countless pairs of online eyes watching in the Internet world, many regular users have had to get help from network security software firms, but data has shown that even this type of digital security might have installed some kind of back door, full of potential flaws and visible only to peepers. This is making Internet citizens feel more insecure about their personal information, not to mention people’s worries about more powerful eyes ever since the PRISM incident.

“While the priest climbs a post, the devil climbs ten.”

The more advanced the Internet age becomes, the more threats personal information security faces. It is not wise or realistic to give up the Internet. Simply asking users to “value personal privacy” or to “increase sense of protection” is also inadequate.

The real way out is in legislation and law enforcement, to strengthen the attack and prosecution of Internet peepers, to stop the selling of personal information from the source, to stop the special back door for peepers, its one-way transparency, and other unfair practices toward individual users. At the same time, we need to increase the punishment for digital thieves and any theft, dissemination and illegal acquisition of personal information, and punish anyone who does so for profit or other purposes. Only then can personal information and privacy be truly and fundamentally protected in the Internet age.


  好莱坞“艳照门”最值得关注的“大尺度”,绝非女星们身材的“大尺度曝光”,而是网络时代个人信息的“大尺度曝光”。

  日前,美国一家网站曝光多名好莱坞女星的大尺度照片,其中包括曾获得奥斯卡影后称号的詹妮弗·劳伦斯,以及克里斯汀·邓斯特、蕾哈娜等,经由八卦小报炒作,已传得沸沸扬扬。对此,劳伦斯的发言人已证实确有此事,并表示将采取法律手段追究责任。

  一些好事者往往将目光对准“大尺度”照片本身,卫道士们则更有指责女星们“不知检点”或“未尽公众人物道德高标职责”的,但理应明白的是,上述 照片都是这些成年女星们的个人私房照,主观上并无外泄故意,即便不妥,也绝非问题的主要方面。这件事中最值得关注的“大尺度”,绝非女星们身材的“大尺度 曝光”,而是网络时代个人信息的“大尺度曝光”。


  信息时代的到来和网络的发达,一方面给人们带来前所未有的方便,另一方面,却也让人们不由自主地将更多个人隐私关联到网络空间。当然,大多数人都拥有程度不等的个人信息保护意识,知道通过设置密码、防火墙等手段,拦阻可能“偷窥”的电子数码窃贼。


  面对网络世界无数双默默偷窥的“在线眼睛”,许多普通用户不得不求助于网络安全服务商所提供的各类软件,但已有许多信息显示,即便这类“电子保 安”,也未必不会在其中设置一些隐患十足、对特定“偷窥者”单向透明的“后门”,这显然会令网民们对个人信息的不安感增加——就更不用说自“棱镜门”等一 系列事件曝光后,人们开始越来越担心“来头更大的眼睛”了。


  道高一尺魔高一丈,网络时代越发展,网络个人信息安全所受到的威胁也就越多、越大,针对此,因噎废食、远离网络应用,既不明智,更不现实,而一味呼吁用户个人“注重个人隐私”、“提高防范意识”,显然也是隔靴搔痒。


  真正的出路,在于通过立法和执法,加强对网络“偷窥者”的打击、处罚力度,从源头杜绝出卖用户个人信息、为特定“偷窥者”开放“后门”制造“单 向透明”等对个人用户不公平的行为。同时,加大对“数码窃贼”,以及窃取、传播、利用非法所获他人个人信息,牟取利益或达到某种目的的人或行为的惩罚力 度,惟如此,才能从根本上实现网络时代对个人信息、隐私的保护。
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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