I've always believed that the Internet is the greatest invention since writing itself. This fantastic tool has made our lives easier and places information at the touch of button. Unfortunately, there is one downside to this wonderful technology. OUR PRIVACY IS GONE FOREVER. Case in point. This article in the January 30th Wall Street Journal (Personal Journal section) informed us of just that:
"In November, users of social network site Facebook Inc. started seeing updates on what their friends bought online. Last month, users of a Google Inc. news service began
receiving lists of articles their friends and acquaintances had read online. And earlier this month, Sears Holdings Corp. let people type anyone's name, phone number, and address on a website to learn about their Sears purchases.
All three examples have one thing in common: The companies allowed Web surfers to access personal information about people they know - sometimes without the knowledge of those people."
The Los Angeles Times today, under the guise of trying to help voters, is offering a service that will allow its readers to choose candidates and ballot measures they want to vote for, select them, and then send them to their cell phone as a text message. How benevolent of the LA Times. NOT!!!! I can only assume the real purpose of this "convenience" is to create a clearer picture of where the voters are on issues and candidates, and to create more accurate pre-election and exit polls. Fine, but what happens to the information you send to the Times? Does this information get sold? Once you send in your information, they will have your name and cell phone mumber, and in the age of the internet, that's all you need to gain a treasure trove of information on a person.
Kinda makes the whole secret ballot thing a mute point doesn't it?
