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INTERNET PRIVACY :: 08/23/06 Yes, it's true: the webmaster of a manually coded website is afraid of the internet. Unlike most people who claim fear of computers, the problem isn't that I know too little. No, my problem with the internet is that I know too much. What I know about the internet that worries me is that it's almost impossible to do anything on the web without creating a record that most anyone can access or follow. Even so called "anonymizer" services do nothing but entrust the information about your internet use to a different third party. I'm afraid to buy things on the internet, because I know how very easy it would be to access my credit card numbers later. I'm afraid to online bank, because I know how easy it would be to steal my balance or identity. I don't like storing files online, sending sensitive emails, or having important conversations online, because I know that every letter I type is stored in a database somewhere. Everything is done online now, if not exclusively, then better. We have a choice in the matter now, but how long until companies realize they can cut their overhead immeasurably by becoming completely digital? How long until the postal service exists only to ship online purchases? The government already routinely scans emails for "terrorist" key words... How long until they start scanning for sexual deviance? The bottom line is that everything we do in the digital world is controlled and recorded, either by a corporation or the government. I don't trust either of those entities... Do you? |