Security and Privacy in the US

wbm6k writes "The New York Times recently ran an article entitled, "In the Name of Security." The author basically summarizes the current governmental challenges to privacy (most of course already reported here at /.) and contrasts consumer fear of corporate information gathering with citizen willingness to accept government intrusions in the name of 'homeland security.'"

Comments

What the hell was that?

[RareHeintz]

Wow... Not the best piece of journalism ever put out by the NYT. For example, where the hell did this come from?

From the Vietnam and Watergate era until Sept. 11, 2001, legal protection of privacy rights was moving in only one direction, with judges and legislators across the ideological spectrum working hard to create what is in many ways a new legal right.

Apparently the writer did precious little research, or he might have stumbled across the outrageous expansions in Federal wiretapping power granted during the Clinton administration. And maybe the subsequent abuses by police agencies, most notably the LAPD.

On the whole, the whole thing seemed rather lightweight - a summary of other news items, and a vague comparison of commercial-vs.-gov't data gathering pros and cons.

So where is the deeper journalism on these issues, anyway?

OK,
- B

Us vs. Them

[Associate]

One reason people are more willing to submit to government intrusion in the name of national security, they are too willing to believe the lie: Of the People, For the Pople, By the People. They think the government is really working in their best interest, many because of this doctrine. They don't trust corporations because they are there to make a buck off of you. I wish they would realize that all the Senators and Congressmen and other beaurocrats are the same people sitting on the board at these ubuer-companies. Why would they need a kickback or bribe when they can legislate to require that which only there company can afford to bid low on? The really bad thing is, if people didn't trust either one with the same degree, their only alternative source of hope would be organized religion. We all know where that road takes up.