Latvia
Language of privacy
The word “privacy” in Latvian has a meaning similar to that in English, except that it is mainly used not as noun, but as an adjective which is confined to particular persons or groups providing privacy: “private life”, “private conversation”, “private detective”, “private property”, etc. Privacy mainly designates the secrecy of personal life and affairs, confidentiality of sensitive information, but the same word can also be used as a synonym for seclusion, anonymity, and one’s wish to be left alone. As a noun the term “privacy” is used mainly in professional discourses, because similarly to many other professional terms it has been adopted from English. In public discussions about Latvian Genome project, the term “privacy” itself is mentioned very rarely, if ever. Instead different phenomena equivalent to the privacy are mentioned in the descriptions: high confidentiality of sensitive personal data, accessibility of such information, codification of information on biological materials and anonymity of phenotypic information, multilevel data protection system, actions in case of illegitimate disclosure of participant’s identity, etc.
Eurobarometer
- Directorate General Press and Communication (2005) Social values, science and Technology (Special Eurobarometer 225/ Wave 63.1). EC Directorate General Research. Relevant questions: Q15.a.3, Q17.
- Gaskell, George et al (2006) European and Biotechnology in 2005: Patterns and Trends (Eurobarometer 64.3). London, London
School of Economics. A report to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research. Relevant question: Q5.3.
Interests expressed by the public towards research using genetic databases and biobanks
- Putnina, A (2008) Genoma izpētes projekta Latvijā sabiedriskie aspekti. Latvijas Universitātes Bioētikas un biodrošības centrs.
- Putniņa, A. (2003) “Population Genome Project in Latvia: Exploring the Articulation of Agency” in Society and Genetic Information: Codes and Laws in the Genetic Era, J. Sándor (ed.). Budapest, New York: Central European University Press, 2003: 233-245.
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