Informational Friction

Informational friction, similar to ontological friction, is resistance felt in any means for obtainment of information on a given subject matter. The ability to access information correlates to this friction so that a greater amount of available data creates less informational friction and vice versa. While this concept relates to all types of environments, it has become increasing relevant with the development of ICT (Information and Communications Technology). Luciano Floridi, a leading philosopher on this idea, goes further to differentiate between the informational friction surrounding older ICT (radio, telephone, television) and newer ICT affording resistance. Just as revolutionary communication technology reduced informational friction, modern digital settings may work to both decrease and increase it.

Because informational friction relates to informational privacy, the two may seem conflicting, where achieving a low level of friction and a high level of privacy is impossible. Looking closer at types of data and how they connect to individuals’ privacy may offer some remedy, however, the flux of informational friction continues to complexly relate to progresses in informational privacy.

Friction and ICTs

Information and communication technologies influence the amount of friction in the ongoing transaction of information. As Floridi explains, “…old ICTs, such as the radio and the TV, affect informational friction only one way, that is, by decreasing it, whereas new ICTs work both ways, that is, they can decrease or increase it, so they can reduce or enhance the degree of privacy we enjoy.” The ways in which ICTs can change the flow of information is endless and are often times a hybridization. Not only do ICTs set new precedents for available information, decreasing the informational friction, they can also at times provide anonymous settings which can in turn increase informational friction.

Ethical Issues

Informational friction often correlates to the level of informational privacy. Individuals or groups who are able achieve a higher level of privacy through limiting the available knowledge, are increasing the informational friction. The idea of informational friction becomes a middle-man between personal data and the collection of it, where the presence or absence of informational friction is somewhat decisive in user control and privacy.

Ethical issues surrounding privacy, have continued to become more and more demanding as ICTs affect informational friction.