The spring season of The Sunday Forum ended on 30 May, 2010.

This week, the issue of internet privacy came under the spotlight as the world’s leading social networking site, Facebook, agreed to introduce simpler ways for its 400 million users to maintain their privacy online.

A mass boycott of the site had been threatened by people who wanted to stop their personal information being available for all to see. So, it was an example of people power winning against a mighty global corporation.

But what does this incident say about our approach to the issue of internet privacy? What is private and what is not? If we post confidential information on the internet for our friends to see, is there any ethical problem with others getting their hands on it?

And can traditional ethics and morality keep pace with technology?

Our guests this week were:

Kevin Rafter - writer and lecturer specialising in media and politics

Yvonne Nolan – television producer/director and blogger

TJ McIntyre – solicitor and chairman of the civil rights group, Digital Rights Ireland.

John McGuirk – communications and media consultant - and blogger

Amanda Brown - who starts a Cybersorter column in The Irish Times next week. Social media agony aunting!

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