Surveillance of information flow and privacy in the digital environment

Abstract

Introduction: The growing offer of products and services in a virtual environment resulted in a significant increase in the volume of personal and organizational data that transit through data networks and are stored in different places, by different entities. Interactions in this environment are continuously monitored, whether for needs related to the interests of companies or organizations, or to curb the most diverse illicit practices. These monitoring activities, which configure a state of permanent vigilance, raise concerns related to the treatment of data collected and processed, with important ethical and legal implications, and which may not be properly covered by legal instruments. Objective: The research sought to identify which studies published between 2010 and 2020 deal with ethical or legal issues related to privacy in the virtual environment. Methodology: A literature review was carried out, adopting content analysis as a technique. As a technological resource, Excel® and ATLAS.TI® software were used. Results: Only 19 of the 39 documents found are in line with the research objective, most of which are theses and dissertations. Publications are concentrated in the second half of the analyzed period. Conclusion: The analyses showed a growing need to monitor the information circulating in the virtual environment, involving sender and receiver, covering security issues, increased volume of data, new technologies, and cybercrime among other issues. The number and distribution of articles over the analyzed period indicate that these themes require even greater investigations, contemplating broader perspectives of monitoring activities in virtual environments.