Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5
Every time governments adopt new technology, they inherit a responsibility: to protect the information citizens entrust to them. That protection has two dimensions — privacy and security. They work together, but they are not interchangeable.
Confusing them, or treating one as optional, leaves citizens exposed. More importantly, it undermines trust. And trust is the currency that allows government to deliver digital services at scale.
Privacy: Control and Boundaries
Privacy is about control. It’s the boundaries that let people decide what’s shared, with whom, and for what purpose.
In practice, privacy looks like:
- A resident deciding whether their city’s transit app tracks their movements.
- A student choosing what information their school shares with an online platform.
When privacy is strong, individuals retain agency over their information. When it’s weak, systems may operate securely but still collect, share, or expose data in ways that feel intrusive or unfair.
Security: Safeguards and Defense
Security is about protection. It’s the defenses that keep systems resilient against threats and unauthorized access.
In practice, security looks like:
- Multi-factor authentication stopping attackers from misusing stolen passwords.
- Encryption ensures files can’t be read if intercepted.
- Network monitoring that detects and blocks malicious activity.
When security is strong, data remains shielded even in the face of active threats. When it’s weak, information — private or not — becomes vulnerable.
Why Both Are Essential
Some tools, like encryption and access controls, serve both privacy and security. But gaps appear quickly when the two are separated:
- Security without privacy: Systems may be hardened against hackers, but still over-collect or over-share personal data. Citizens feel surveilled, not protected.
- Privacy without security: Information may be hidden or restricted, but without strong defenses, it can still be at risk.
True protection—and lasting trust—require both. Privacy ensures data is respected. Security ensures it is defended.
Why This Matters for Government
Public-sector agencies sit at the intersection of both expectations. They hold some of the most sensitive data citizens will ever share — health records, financial details, benefits information. If privacy is ignored, people lose control of their own information. If security fails, that information can be stolen or misused.