A few years ago a read an article about privacy and the two possible worlds we could live in.
One world is where all of our private information is available to be poured over by a select few. This information would include everything about ourselves... Where we live; how much we make; how much we consume; when we do it; what we consume; how many pets we have; what our favourite band is; the colour of our hair; how often we have sex; etc. etc. etc.
In the other world all of our private information is available to be poured over by anyone. i.e. anyone can access all the private information about anyone else.
In a way we currently live between these worlds. There are organizations out there that hold on to mountains of data about each of us and sell it to whoever can afford to pay for it. There are also those amoungst us that freely share a great deal of information about ourselves with whoever cares to seek it out (e.g. anyone with a blog or other public outlet for their thoughts, feelings, shopping habits, interests, etc.).
I've often wondered which world I would rather live in. In either world there is an anonymous voyeur peeking into your life. But in one world the number of voyeurs are limited, but so too is your access to someone else's information limited. In the other world the number of voyeurs is unlimited, but so to is your access to informaiton.
I suppose there coule be a third world where nobody knows anything about anyone (100% privacy), but societies don't work this way. Societies need to know a little bit about other people within the society for that scociety to function.
So I think we are stuck with option 1 or 2.
In either world the information available can be used for good or evil. In the first world, there are already a lot of evil applications of access to detailed information about individuals. Look at political campaigns that can and do craft just the right message (read: lie) that a) resonates with YOU b) stirs you into action c) gets you to vote for 'their' candidate. Or how about marketing messages that are crafted for the market of one: YOU. If 'they' know everything about your, 'they' can get you to do just about anything 'they' want you to do. And, I am not talking about broad marketing messages, I'm talking literally about a message directed to you and nobody else. That's pretty evil.
A good application (though no less creepy) would be quick access to a list of potential blood doners within 10km of an accident site that have your blood type and have a history of helping strangers in need. Super creepy, but it could mean life or death.
I don't know if I have a point here. Nor do I think I know where I stand. Which world would I want to live in? Neither? Both? Does it even matter what I think? In time the choice will be made for us.
I simply got to thinking about this again, and thought I would share my thoughts. And I think that I can faintly hear the sound of a machine somewhere making note of it. I also swear that I can hear you the reader digesting these words as your read them.
andre
Posted by andre at November 29, 2004 02:05 AM