Data Privacy: A Fundamental Human Right or a Privilege?

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2024 in the subject Computer Science - IT-Security, grade: 1,0, University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg (Technische Hochschule Nürnberg), course: Interkulturelle Kommunikation, language: English, abstract: The paper argues that modern surveillance systems collect large amounts of personal data and do not affect all people equally. Instead, marginalized groups—such as low-income individuals, racial minorities, and immigrants—are monitored more heavily than others, which increases social inequality and discrimination. The paper explains how this surveillance works, why these biases exist, and why they are ethically problematic. It concludes that data privacy should be treated as a universal human right and that stronger laws, transparency, and public awareness are needed to reduce biased surveillance practices.