Openness and Privacy: Finding the Balance

Can a person be both open and maintain his privacy? It’s an interesting scenario and one that many people find themselves being faced with today. To clarify the matter, WebProNews spoke with Chris Messina, an Open Web Advocate with Google.

According to him, openness is a term that is overused and often used incorrectly. In terms of technology, he believes it means that anyone can have access to it. Another element involved with openness is governance. In other words, who has the authority to give permission to modify the technology?

Openness is also used when pertaining to online profiles and how much information a person is willing to reveal about himself. In addition, some people define openness as personal information made public by default.

Messina believes a balance is needed between openness and privacy. He calls the wide misuse of openness “openwashing.” For example, when people call themselves open but don’t have a governance model, a participation model, and d