No, this is another "new technology to spy on us" thread.
Fact: Advancing technology makes widespread surveillance logistically and economically feasible.
Fact: Privacy today is at an all time low, and is only getting much, much worse at an alarming rate.
Fact: Every single bit of technology currently used for these intrusive and questionable purposes was implemented for some benign purpose, then expanded.
I can give example after example of this to prove these claims: SSN, red light cameras, DNA analysis, credit ratings, databases, EZ-Pass, etc... have all been used for surveillance beyond their original intent.
After years and years of seeing the same exact methods used to pry and spy into our lives, a clear pattern of abuse is evident to all but the most obtuse person. Are we not supposed to notice this, and not take alarm as it continues?
Enter you and a couple other jokers to this thread. Perfectly rational and logical concerns about rapidly disappearing privacy are spun into wild eyed conspiracy theories. Very real observations about rampant privacy abuses are to be seen as absurd as Elvis sightings and alien abductions. The only people on this thread to entertain such bizaar thoughts have been those in favor of this new technology.
I suspect you do this to discredit us, and to make us look like fools for taking the time to express concern for our liberty. Well, now I've come right out and called you on it. You can debate the very real privacy issues at stake here, or continue with your juvenile illuminati and tin foil hat jokes. Just don't expect anyone to take you seriously.
What's the solution? Repeal patent laws?
In my opinion, we are debating the "very real privacy issues at stake here" with the amount of decorum such drivel deserves. If I were interested in anyone taking me seriously on threads such as these ... well, that would be impossible. Threads such as these should NOT be taken seriously.
So, we are being very consistent. If someone is reading my emails or going through my trash, all I can say is that they're going to be mighty bored AND have dirty hands.
(1) On the web, whenever asked to provide information about yourself (age, gender, ethnic group, likes, dislikes, name, address, whatever -- lie. And use a different lie each time.
(2) Create some "throw away" free email addresses. Use those when signing up for forums, bulletin boards, etc.
(3) When you are at a store and buy something and they ask for your phone number, go ahead. Just transpose randomly the last 4 digits.
(4) Pay for a "Mailboxes Etc." box -- or a similar service. Use that address when you need to sign up for a web service where you need to give a legitimate address (for example, you are doing job search on job boards.)
(5) Pay for any purchases that you would not want traced to you with cash, of course. But really, no one is going to care if you buy Dockers pants, you know.
(6) Whenever money might become trackable, just get larger bills and use them whenever you buy fast food. The change will not be traceable to you as an individual.
(7) Don't use a wireless network for your home, no matter how convenient. Use the routers that work off your phone lines (preferred if you have several home jacks that use the same phone line) or home electical system (okay, but anyone on the same side of your local transformer - the little one - can tap your traffic. This just means your nearest 4 to 8 neighbors, usually.)
(8) Make sure that whenever you send in warranty cards, or sign up for magazine subscriptions, that you use different middle initials and misspell your first or last name slightly (Jon Smith, John Smith, John Smythe, Jon Smythe, etc.)
Of course, if you don't care if the great global conglomerate knows about you, ignore the above. But if you do, remember that garbage in == garbage out. Once your personal data is filed in 100's of different ways, data mining is ineffective in pulling the data related to you personally - because you are listed under so many different name, address, and phone number variations that you no longer exist.