The same may be true of pet licenses, occupational licenses, social security numbers, and other data collected by the state. The technology that makes personal records so accessible and so valuable also offers the possibility of accommodating individual preferences. Some decisions about the availability of personal records can easily be made in the interest of society at large. Some government records should be public and some should not. In cases where there are legitimate interests on both sides, the technology will support individual decisions.
Legislatures can resolve conflicts by letting each individual make the choice.
And remember, it is possible to use technology to preserve privacy too. Decisions about public availability of government records should be made with open eyes and after public debate. When the government discloses records about individuals, we know that the records will be exploited by marketers, placed on the Internet, and used in other ways that invade the privacy of citizens. The states do not have to allow these invasions to continue unchecked. Citizens can make choices about what records should be public in light of the institutions and technologies that are capable of using the records.