The Functionality-Security-Privacy Game

Privacy preservation in the information society is in many respects parallel to environment preservation in the physical world. In this way, “green ICT services” are those achieving functionality and security with minimum invasion of the privacy of individuals, where such an invasion can be regarded as a kind of pollution as harmful in the long run to their moral welfare as physical pollution is to their physical welfare. Depending on the type of service, individuals can be users, data owners or respondents having supplied data. We show that the conflict between functionality, security and privacy can be viewed as a game between several players whose interests differ. If the game is properly formulated, its equilibria can lead to protocols conciliating the functionality, security and privacy interests of all players.