Privacy: conditions for its survival in our I.S.

New Internet applications are characterized by some features: ubiquity of terminals, opacity of their functioning and of the data flows generated, maximization of individual�s participation (Web 2.0 applications) and limitless capacity of computer analysis which permits use of profiling methods. These characteristics lead to the emergence of an �Observation society�, functioning with the implicit understanding and interpretation of the data as valid and privileged source of « truth » about the persons, their preferences, intentions, etc. Decisions are taken a priori on the basis of this data and profiles rather than on information by the data subjects (risks of reductionism and de-contextualisation) with all the additional risks created by the increasing power asymmetries between data subjects and data controllers.