Socio-legal analysis of the emergence and expansion of social networks on the Internet and privacy in Colombia

Abstract

Social networks have become the easiest route to communicate and make themselves known to the world. The networks manage to establish all kinds of links: personal and professional; the citizens who access them enjoy freedom, the users feel that through the tool they can transmit information in a more spontaneous and sincere way, even that, in a direct and personal dialogue with the receiver of the information, in the scenario of New Technologies of Information and Communication-NTIC-. Social networks offer users access to communication in real time, which facilitates and makes the use of these is striking for all kinds of people. However, with the publication of personal information on social networks, risks may arise that could affect the rights of people. Weakness in information security systems enables the emergence of cases where the right to privacy is violated. Taking into account this contextual reality, an analysis is carried out from the constitutional perspective, identifying the limits of the right to privacy of Colombian citizens who access social networks and the possibilities of protection of the right to privacy from the legal regulation in front of the publication in such networks. The conclusion is reached that the legal regulations are still insufficient and that the necessary guarantees are not available to fully repair the moral and economic damages caused.