| Don't try to deny it. I know what you did last night! | | | | at well publicizedissues such as the database being |
| One might expect that a line like that could only come | | | | sold as an assetin its bankruptcy, when it had promised |
| froma jealous wife who has had a private detective | | | | that information wouldnever be sold, illustrate how |
| follow herstraying hubby, but soon it may come from | | | | information on YOU could be sold,resold, sold on the |
| your wallet oreven your milk carton! | | | | blackmarket, hacked from multiplicity ofsources or |
| Why would your milk carton care what you did last | | | | simply stored for access by big brother. |
| night? Itdoesn't, but it could soon "know" that you | | | | Suffice it to say that information, in the information |
| passed the grocerystore on the way home without | | | | economy,has the value we used to assign to precious |
| picking up a fresh carton of milk. | | | | metals or gemstones. |
| It will simply ask the garage door opener which was | | | | When things have value, they are susceptible to theft, |
| told by thecar and then inform your briefcase which | | | | graft,bribes and criminal abuses by bad guys. |
| will remind your cellphone to alert you tomorrow | | | | Information is goldenand precious. We need to define a |
| before you pass the market again. | | | | new type of "Fort Knox" forinformation sources. |
| Your checkbook will know your bank balance before | | | | Security, encryption and permission levelsto access |
| you balanceit, so you won't need to balance it. Your | | | | distribute, store and manage all types of |
| car will insist thatyou take it to the dealership for | | | | informationthat exists in millions of databases that |
| maintenance before it reachesthe mileage limit set by | | | | could all be easilymerged. |
| the manufacturer for required serviceto keep the | | | | I was told today of a web site that exists allowing you |
| warranty intact. The Secretary of State (or Dept.of | | | | to sendsnail mail to someone by entering their email |
| Motor Vehicles [DMV] in some states) will be able to | | | | address in a webform. DoubleClick was thoroughly |
| disableyour car if you fail to renew your registration or | | | | reamed for publicly announcingtheir intention to merge |
| license. | | | | online and offline databases for exactlythat ability, yet |
| All of this magic is possible now and in use in some | | | | other companies are operating quietly withoutpublic |
| cases. | | | | outcry. Because they are doing it without telling us. |
| Your world is very close to being automated, trackable | | | | "I know what you did last night" may soon be a |
| andrecorded in a permanent database. Huge abuses | | | | wonderful andwelcome comment if it comes from |
| are possible inthis strange new world and we need to | | | | your milk carton. Let's justkeep that information in the |
| establish boundaries andlimit access to this information | | | | family of inanimate objects andout of the hands of the |
| before it gets out of thosedatabases and into any | | | | government, criminals, telemarketersand unsavory data |
| "unsavory" databases. I'll bet on thenewest action | | | | warehousing software developers. |
| adventure movies in the next few months | | | | A recent privacy uproar concerns the public posting of |
| havingsomething to do with "Arnold" chasing down a | | | | ICQlogs from the PC of a web company CEO |
| good database thatwas corrupted by an evil data | | | | concerning internalprivate discussions over the instant |
| warehousing software developer. | | | | messaging service. |
| I'm not a doomsayer, so I'll address these issues by | | | | In this case it was someone having access to the |
| suggestingthat we all remain aware, informed and alert | | | | same PC thatled to the security breach, but it has fired |
| to the possibilityof abuses so that we can stop them | | | | discussions abouthow instant messaging text is served |
| from occurring. | | | | and how and where it isstored and who has access |
| I am a technology enthusiast so I welcome these | | | | to those logs, how they might beaccessed externally |
| developmentsfor what they mean in terms of | | | | and by whom and if they are encrypted. |
| convenience and in making my lifeeasier. The wireless | | | | This is the un-nerving side of ease of access to |
| web, BlueTooth technology, embedded chips,bar codes | | | | informationbut there are also some seriously funny |
| and information databases make it all easily do-able. | | | | thoughts on privacy: |
| For those of you unfamiliar with BlueTooth technology | | | | The link above will take you to a hilarious article |
| let me putin its simplest terms (limit of my own | | | | describing a |
| understanding) it allowsantyhing with this low frequency | | | | "continuous series of detachable, 480x480-pixel square |
| radio transmission to "talk"with anything else with the | | | | displays,complete with Bluetooth wireless |
| same embedded technology. This meansthat | | | | communications!" |
| inanimate objects can communicate with each other | | | | This "display" innovation may get more personal than |
| wheneverthey are within a specific physical proximity | | | | you thinksince it comes as the newest version of |
| to each other. | | | | "Free Toilet Paper with |
| PRIVACY as we've known it in the past may be | | | | Banner Ads". |
| unattainable orshall I say, un-maintainable. Public uproar | | | | Talk about getting personal with privacy issues! |