This content is located in CAPS under Social Implications: Impact of Society for Grade 12.

Teaching the concept of “Right to Access vs Right to Privacy” provides an excellent opportunity to delve into the balance between accessing information and respecting individual rights. This topic encourages discussions about ethical decision-making, technology’s role in personal privacy, and societal values.

To make this topic engaging and practical for Grade 12 students, you can employ real-life scenarios, interactive activities, and debates. Here’s how you can approach it in a meaningful and interactive way:

Understanding the Balance
Start by presenting the fundamental definitions:

• Right to Access: The entitlement to retrieve information or resources.
• Right to Privacy: The entitlement to control personal information and maintain confidentiality.

Ask the class to brainstorm examples of how these rights might conflict in different scenarios, such as government surveillance, social media, or online shopping.

Real-Life Scenarios
Divide the class into small groups and give them case studies to analyse. For example:

• A journalist investigating a political corruption case wants access to sensitive documents. Does the public’s right to know outweigh individual privacy rights?
• A social media platform collects user data to personalise advertisements. Where should the line be drawn?

Encourage groups to present their findings, focusing on ethical dilemmas and potential resolutions.

Data Collection Activity
Demonstrate how personal information is collected online. Simulate an activity where students fill in a fictional online survey (name, preferences, location). Use this to show how data is aggregated and utilised, highlighting potential privacy concerns.

Follow up by discussing:

• How companies justify data collection.
• Privacy laws like South Africa’s POPIA – Protection of Personal Information Act.

Debate on Public Figures
Host a debate on whether public figures (e.g., politicians, celebrities) should have the same right to privacy as ordinary citizens. Assign roles to the class:

• One side advocates for unrestricted public access to ensure accountability.
• The other defends privacy, regardless of societal role.

This encourages critical thinking and persuasive communication.

Creative Media Assignment
Ask students to create infographics or posters explaining:

• How to protect privacy online.
• The importance of fair access to information for societal growth.

Provide access to free online tools like Canva to design their media. Encourage creativity by setting up a gallery walk where students can view and discuss each other’s work.

Ethical Technology Discussion
Introduce technologies like VPNs, incognito browsing, and social media privacy settings. Demonstrate how they function and discuss their ethical implications. Are these tools empowering privacy or enabling illicit behaviour?

Reflection on Current Events
Bring news articles related to data breaches, hacking incidents, or government surveillance. Discuss the societal impact, who is accountable, and how such events influence public trust in technology.

Encourage Participation
Conclude the session by asking students how they perceive the balance between these rights in their daily lives. Invite them to share their own strategies for maintaining privacy while benefiting from digital access.