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A photo shows US and Israeli flags projected on the historic walls of the Old City near Hebron Gate in Jerusalem on June 22, 2025. (Getty Images)
What are the proper limits and obligations on governments and businesses in conducting surveillance? And what concessions are individuals and businesses obliged to make in the name of security?
One of the most controversial issues of the Internet age is the appropriate boundary between security and individual privacy. As both encryption and surveillance technologies become more sophisticated, balancing privacy and security interests has become increasingly complicated. These tensions were highlighted in the wake of Apple’s recent dispute with the FBI and reports of terrorists’ use of advanced encryption software.
On Wednesday, May 4, Hudson Institute hosted a debate between two of the foremost experts on these issues, Nadine Strossen and David Rivkin. They presented contrasting perspectives on the legality and morality of surveillance. Hudson Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for the Economics of the Internet, Harold Furchtgott-Roth, moderated the discussion.
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