Privacy on the Internet is a Fallacy

Privacy on the internet is a fallacy which we need to stop pursuing. Somehow we have allowed consumers to believe that their personal information is safe, secure, and private on the internet. Consumers have no problem knowing that friends of friends can freely stalk them, but riots ensue when personal information is mined by Google to enhance their user experience. This is akin to announcing an engagement in Relief Society and expecting the news to stay there. Ignorance is the sole cause of this illogical behavior. We must stop allowing ourselves to be deceived by the fallacy of a private internet.

Privacy Has No Value

The Patriot Act has stirred controversy since it was introduced to Congress in October 2001. Critics of the the bill claim that it infringes on our right to privacy. Those critics forget that privacy comes at a cost. In The Cuckoo's Egg, Cliff Stoll tells a true story about tracing a hacker. He attempts to enlist the help of law enforcement and military officials but they constantly resist. Cliff then realizes that "[our] rights actually limit what police can do."

One of the responsibilities of our government is to protect our lives and property. That requires the government to take preemptive action. The government can't protect us if they can't prevent attacks against us. Taking preemptive action requires the ability to gather intelligence on reasonable threats. But intelligence gathering can't be limited only to previously determined threats. The government also needs the ability to identify new threats. This level of gathering intelligence requires an invasion of privacy.

There is nothing wrong with the government invading our privacy. We lose nothing if we have nothing to hide. Instead, we enable the government to fulfill its responsibility to protect our life and property.