Electronic Communication and Privacy Rights.pdf (1.19 MB)
Electronic Communication and Privacy Rights: Rape Shield Laws, Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights, and Defense Subpoenas in a Digital World
This poster was presented at the 15th Annual James F. Jakobsen Graduate Conference at the University of Iowa in spring of 2013. It originated from a course paper done for Information Policy in the fall of 2012 (linked in references).
Abstract: As electronic communications and online information access become indispensable components of our day-to-day lives, they also begin to trigger changes in policy and produce unintended consequences from existing policies. Privacy of personal information has always been an issue in legal cases dealing with sexual assault, but in the information age, so much more information exists in a digital format, and without proper protections, provides a tempting trove of information ripe for unjust “fishing expeditions.” Privacy protections for survivors of sexual violence are as important as ever in this new technological landscape. Consumer education and awareness of privacy issues should play a large role in our near future as we grapple with these promisingly persistent issues.
Abstract: As electronic communications and online information access become indispensable components of our day-to-day lives, they also begin to trigger changes in policy and produce unintended consequences from existing policies. Privacy of personal information has always been an issue in legal cases dealing with sexual assault, but in the information age, so much more information exists in a digital format, and without proper protections, provides a tempting trove of information ripe for unjust “fishing expeditions.” Privacy protections for survivors of sexual violence are as important as ever in this new technological landscape. Consumer education and awareness of privacy issues should play a large role in our near future as we grapple with these promisingly persistent issues.
