Undergraduate Research & Scholarships

Seth Zhao SURF SMART

I Regret to Inform You That Your Private Information Has Been Compromised

Privacy is one of the central issues of our time. All things being equal, we assume that most people prefer privacy; it is a foundational right enshrined in the penumbras of the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th, and 14th amendments of the U.S. constitution as well as in several state constitutions (including those of California, Massachusetts, and Washington) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Despite our appreciation of privacy, police officers wear body cameras, customer loyalty programs track purchases, and the Transportation Safety Administration performs full body scans. This paradox illuminates the deep ambivalence in modern American society about privacy, and a largely untapped area of research in sociology. This research seeks to understand the deeper cultural logics inherent in shifting views on privacy in the modern world as well as the evolution of its meaning historically in the U.S. context.

Message To Sponsor

Its my honor and pleasure to work with my mentor Naniette Coleman. This opportunity not only means the enhancement of my research skills, but also means the intellectual growth that enables me to well serve this community in the future. I appreciate the Johnson fund and SURF SMART for giving me this opportunity and I'm looking forward to bringing my light in this summer!
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Major: Computer Science and Applied Mathematics
Mentor: Naniette Coleman
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