In the name of marketing and writing cool software, we've voluntarily surrendered one of the most important human rights. No national politician has made the death of privacy a major political issue, nor is any congressional committee investigating it. In a world where we're all increasingly dependent on networked computing for work, banking, music, movies, research and personal communications, it's unlikely ever to return. Privacy has historically been considered a fundamental element of individual liberty. The death of privacy has been so relentless, indirect and unintended, however, as to have gone virtually unnoticed.
Reporters routinely pry into the most intimate details of the lives of public figures.
Computers were collecting personal data on individuals even before the Net and the Web. Every time we go online, some marketer learns a bit more about us or our families. The FDIC says that only eight of the 50 largest institutions meet minimal privacy data standards. That is, they fail to explain what data is being collected, allow consumers to opt out, permit access to the information, provide secure storage for the data, and provide customers a way to contact the company regarding privacy issues. These digital cards are used to store customer gender, identify and age, and preferences in everything from hygiene products to junk food.