Final answer:
European attitudes toward personal privacy are shaped by historical events, leading to stringent data protections like GDPR. Privacy concerns are addressed in regulations that apply both to private entities and government, offering comprehensive protection to individuals in the European Union.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Dr. Victor Mayer-Schoenberger, past history in Europe has significantly shaped current European attitudes toward personal privacy. With its tumultuous history of political rivalries, wars, cultural struggles, and the transformation brought by scientific advancements, Europeans have developed a strong concern for privacy and data protection. The enactment of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) marks this attitude, providing stringent rules that apply to government agencies and private businesses alike. These regulations enforce a principle that data about EU citizens may only be gathered and processed under specific conditions, reflecting Europe's comprehensive approach to individual privacy and data protection.
In contrast, while online privacy, security, and control are growing concerns globally, European laws offer more extensive regulation of how data is handled when compared to the United States. This regulatory framework is influenced not only by past experiences but also by contemporary ethical concerns, such as those highlighted by Max Weber regarding the importance of value neutrality in sociological research, encouraging transparency and a lack of bias, which can also be seen in attitudes towards privacy and data protection.