Eric Hayden, Miller-McCune.com has written an article titled Why Privacy on Facebook is 'Virtually Impossible'. Actually, privacy anywhere in our world today is impossible. Our politicians have been so busy getting themselves re-elected, they have not kept up with what is going on in the world. Leaving everything to their staff is little consolation as their staff is not in a good position to make priority choices for them unless it can be good publicity for re-election. Let's face it, only a small majority of our elected officials have integrity, morality, and dedication to serving the public's needs. Oh, yes, there are some there but how is the average voter going to squeak out the truth when all they have access to is rhetoric and lies with an occasional truth thrown in
The Privacy Act of 1974 is rather a pretty amusing read today. It does not happen in the places it can. It does not happen to the organizations that have, for years now, amassed personal data on almost everyone in the country who has every used a computer, been on the Internet, responded to a seemingly benign questionnaire, and who know how many other sources.
Marketers are users of this information as anyone who grieves the trees being wasted just to throw out circulars and catalogs for their mistakes in what they think will interest us. I do not own a pet but I once bought a parakeet for a relative and some dog treats for my friends who insist on bringing their joined-to-their-hip dogs with them to my house. They finally stopped when I made sure I filled out one of those forms that attaches itself to so many purchases requesting information on my preferences...a pretty ubiquitous marketing bottom feeder. I should have followed the advice of a friend who says she gets little spam because she always fills those out with no interests and a very low income.
We have all seen how little privacy there is from ads letting us know, for a fee, they can find anyone and whatever you want to know about them. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) under the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), another amusing thought on privacy. Click here to check out their site.
With all the laws on the books, one would think they might be followed or those who fail will be brought to the courts. There is another joke. Even the police have to make priority choices on who is committing the greater crime. Prisons have to make choices, when overcrowded, who are the safest criminals to release. There is an App for the iPhone with a map advising where the nearest sex offenders are to you. You might say that those who break laws have given up their right to privacy but those of us within the law had no choice about giving up the right to privacy. It was taken away from us by virtue of our interaction with the outside world. The alternative is to live like a paranoid recluse, in my mind.
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