This was the first in a series of debates about the way that mobile phones shape our lives in the twenty-first century. Launched in June 2005, this six-week debate explored how mass usage of mobile phones is shifting the traditional boundaries between public and private life, and examined the new issues this raises for individuals’ privacy.

The debate culminated in a London seminar at IBM South Bank, bringing together contributors to the online debate and other interested parties to reflect upon the nature of privacy in our mobile society.

Our online debate asked readers to consider the question ‘Camera phones, location-based services, data retention, wire tapping, spam - what do these things mean for us?’, and invited responses by email or text message.

Valuing expert opinion
To kick off, we published three short position papers by experts on this issue. Dr Nicola Green, lecturer in the sociology of new media and new technologies at the University of Surrey, has researched notions of risk, trust, privacy and accountability in personal and location-based technologies. She discussed how the widespread use of mobile technologies contributes to the shifting notions of public and private space, and how this in turn has an impact upon the kind of communications people have with one another.

James Harkin, director of talks at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) and author of the 2003 Demos pamphlet Mobilisation: The Growing Public Interest in Mobile Technology, examined the development of mobile technology in the context of declining trust and increasing state surveillance.

Hamish MacLeod of the Mobile Broadband Group discussed the evolution of the technical capabilities of the networks and handsets, and how this means that the mobile is used in ever more advanced ways.

Full and intelligent discussion
Individuals from the UK, Europe, Canada and Australia contributed to a full and intelligent discussion of the many strands of the privacy debate. Policymakers, academics, managers, journalists and those working in the mobile communications sector contributed alongside members of the public.

Respondents debated, among other issues, how mobile communications affect our relationships with one another – whether that be strangers ‘on the train!’ or lovers receiving angry texts from cheated-on spouses. Does individuals’ loud use of mobiles in public places reflect a greater openness, or a rise in bad manners?

"The problem has nothing to do with the instrument, and much more with the manners of the ones who possess it". Kyvelie Papas, retired medical practitioner, UK

The issue of state surveillance was raised, with some asking whether mobile phones pose a distinctly new threat to privacy than other recent technological developments. Having identified this as a concern, what can be done about it?

"The need to balance personal freedoms with public good is one of the key debates of our day. It's a debate that will intensify with the introduction of ID cards, a possible distraction from the power of ISPs and mobile operators". Phil Willis MP, chair, All Party Parliamentary Group on Mobile Communications

And how much do consumers care about privacy anyway? Some argued that widespread use of mobile phones, and our everyday appreciation of this technology, indicates that privacy is perhaps less of an issue for the public than mobile operators and regulators might believe.

"The emotional attachment that we have, with all that the mobile phone engenders, far outweighs concerns for invasion of privacy and intrusion in public space". Jane Vincent, research fellow, Digital World Research Centre, UK

Find out more:

‘Do mobile phones invade our privacy? Full report  - download in PDF

The archived debate can be accessed in full at - www.spiked-online.com/mobileprivacy

spiked - http://www.spiked-online.com/

The next debate in the Mobile Society series, in Autumn 2005, will discuss the issue of mobile phones and health. In early 2006, we will launch a debate on mobile phones and child protection. 

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