Read the sample student paragraph that addresses a counterclaim.

Question

Some claim that the Internet both invades and compromises one’s right to privacy. However, this is ridiculous. The Internet is only as invasive as one allows it to be, particularly since there are laws to protect people’s privacy. Exercising caution when supplying personal information online is the most vital step in protecting one’s privacy. Any information you do not feel comfortable sharing online should not be shared, and sensitive information should only be provided to trusted organizations. Additionally, some states have already enacted privacy laws that model the Federal Privacy Act of 1974, ensuring that information collected for one purpose may not be used—or sold—for other purposes without first notifying the individual to whom the data belongs. The first and most important protector of an individual’s information is that individual. People whose personal information is not properly protected only have themselves to blame.

What evidence weakens the counterclaim in this paragraph?

The Internet is only as invasive as one allows it to be.
Exercising caution is the best way to protect one’s privacy online.
Some states have already enacted online privacy laws.
It is the individual’s fault when personal information is unprotected.

Answer 1

The evidence that weakens the counterclaim in this paragraph is: Exercising caution is the best way to protect one’s privacy online.

This statement directly counters the claim that the Internet compromises one's right to privacy by emphasizing that individuals have the power and responsibility to protect their own privacy through careful behavior. It suggests that the level of invasion experienced is not solely a result of the Internet itself, but rather the choices individuals make in sharing their personal information.