Exploration of a fragmented discourse. Privacy and data security in Süddeutsche Zeitung: 2007–2017

Florian Meissner,Gerret Von Nordheim

doi:10.17951/ms.2018.2.103-123

Abstract

<p>The goal of this exploratory case study is to identify different facets of news reporting on surveillance, privacy and data security, and more specifically, how risks in this context are portrayed. The theoretical foundation consists of two elements: 1) the concept of mediatized risk culture, and 2) the discursive arena model of risk communication, which provides the normative background for assessing news reporting. A text-mining approach (topic modeling) is applied to analyze relevant coverage of the German quality newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. The study yields a total of seven topics which belong to three categories: violation of privacy norms, power and law enforcement, and datafication. The results show that despite the de-mystification of digital technology after the Snowden leaks, coverage has recently become more affirmative and less focused on risk. We conclude that this may indicate a normalization of mass surveillance and data harvesting even in Germany, a society which traditionally values privacy. In order to add more context to our findings, however, further qualitative analyses were needed. The paper serves as a starting point for further research on media reporting of surveillance, privacy and data security.</p>

Highlights

With the recent revelations concerning the social network giant Facebook and the data analytics irm Cambridge Analytica, the debate on privacy and data security has gained new momentum. he improper exploitation of at least 87 million Facebook user accounts by Cambridge Analytica is just one prominent example that the concept of privacy is at stake in an increasingly data-driven world
He paper serves as an appropriate case study for one of the irst exploratory content analyses concerning the public debate about privacy and data security before and ater the Snowden revelations
It is based on the observation that public communication about the risks induced by science and technology oten focuses too much on the views of experts. he model postulates to include the broad public into the negotiation of risk, especially when large parts of society are afected. hanks to the participatory approach of the discursive arena model, the public debate can be understood as a forum for diferent perspectives on risks related to privacy and data security, encourage public scrutiny, and serve as an instrument of early warning, e.g. when state actors or private organizations pursue questionable policies

Summary

Florian MeiSSner

Privacy and data security in Süddeutsche Zeitung: 2007–2017. M Abstract: the goal of this exploratory case study is to identify different facets of news reporting on surveillance, privacy and data security, and more speciically, how risks in this context are portrayed. A text-mining approach (topic modeling) is applied to analyze relevant coverage of the German quality newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. The results show that despite the de-mystiication of digital technology after the Snowden leaks, coverage has recently become more afirmative and less focused on risk. We conclude that this may indicate a normalization of mass surveillance and data harvesting even in Germany, a society which traditionally values privacy.

Introduction

Reporting frequency

Topic Clustering

Legal enforcement prosecutor been investigations court because case bank euro

Usefulness kilometer social smartphones