Technology Erodes Privacy
Mike Gallagher
Tuesday, March 27, 2001
A group that is an advocate for our right to privacy, The Privacy
Foundation, has discovered that TiVo, a system that allows us to record TV
shows onto a hard drive, has been routinely selling information about
viewers' habits to advertisers and the television networks. In other words,
TiVo has been sharing its customers' viewing practices via the phone
lines hooked to their recording devices without viewers' consent or even
knowledge.
I happen to love TiVo. The system is like a high-tech VCR. Not only does
it record my favorite shows at the touch of a button, but I can actually
pause live programming when the annoying phone rings so I don't have to miss
a second of "The Sopranos" or "The West Wing."
But we should think long and hard about the ramifications of a company being
able to tap into our viewing habits and sell that information without our
knowing about it. Technology in 2001 is starting to scare the heck out of me.
So far we've been treated to news stories about Global Positioning Satellite
technology being modified so that employers can track the movements of
employees in company vehicles. We discover that new magnetic strips on the
backs of driver's licenses reveal all kinds of personal information with one
swipe in a machine. We're well aware of how Internet companies know all
kinds of stuff about hapless Web surfers who stumble onto their sites. And
now we find out that the networks and national advertisers can come into our
lives and look over our shoulders (and take notes!) as we watch our favorite
television shows.
The big problem with these examples of eroding privacy lies with most of us
just not caring. The apathy that Americans demonstrate over this kind of
issue is overwhelming. Most people will read of my concerns, shrug their
shoulders, and say that if we're not breaking the law then why should we
care if "big brother" is watching. But we should care. Because technology
is creeping into every aspect of our personal and professional lives, and we
should be plenty worried about what can happen if that information falls
into the wrong hands.
We've seen U.S. presidents corrupted by power in our own lifetime. Is it
really a stretch to think that the local police chief could use high-tech
knowledge to nail someone he thought was guilty of a crime? The U.S.
Supreme Court is currently deciding a case over law enforcement officials
using thermal imaging technology to detect heat being emitted from a wall in
order to arrest a man who was growing marijuana inside his house. They were
outside the man's house and held this device up to the wall without even
obtaining a search warrant, seemingly a clear violation of the Fourth
Amendment.
Emerging technology in the 21st century is exciting – and dangerous. If we
remain silent when companies such as TiVo become unwelcome visitors into our
bedrooms and living rooms, what's next? Pet owners get excited when they
read about computer chips that can be implanted under Fido's skin to track
him when he's lost. I simply wonder when those chips will be attached to
human beings: maybe nursing home patients, prisoners ... or someday, all of
us. If THAT prospect doesn't scare you, you're just not paying attention.
Mike Gallagher's nationally syndicated talk show is now heard on 207 radio
stations around the country.
