Schneier: The Internet Is a Surveillance State

An anonymous reader writes "Bruce Schneier has written a blunt article in CNN about the state of privacy on the internet. Quoting: 'The Internet is a surveillance state. Whether we admit it to ourselves or not, and whether we like it or not, we're being tracked all the time. Google tracks us, both on its pages and on other pages it has access to. Facebook does the same; it even tracks non-Facebook users. Apple tracks us on our iPhones and iPads. One reporter used a tool called Collusion to track who was tracking him; 105 companies tracked his Internet use during one 36-hour period. ... This is ubiquitous surveillance: All of us being watched, all the time, and that data being stored forever. This is what a surveillance state looks like, and it's efficient beyond the wildest dreams of George Orwell. Sure, we can take measures to prevent this. We can limit what we search on Google from our iPhones, and instead use computer web browsers that allow us to delete cookies. We can use an alias on Facebook. We can turn our cell phones off and spend cash. But increasingly, none of it matters. There are simply too many ways to be tracked."

Comments

Re:tor

[mallyn]

I do the same as well. I make lighted jewelry and clothing. I spend just about every spare minute outside of my job engaged in these hobbies.

However, I still have to purchase my tools and raw materials on line. So the powers to be know I make lighted clothing and jewelry. I have a web site for crying out loud! (www.allyn.com).

I do extensive searches on Google, Wikepedia, LinkedIn, and Facebook for techniques in TIG welding, Sewing, Lapidiary, Engraving, Plasma Welding, and many other crafts. All I do on my computer at home with cookies and all.

So now the world knows that I make lighted jewelry by tig welding scrap pieces of steel together and then polish it with tools that I purchase on line. I then light it with LED's I purchase on line from three large LED vendors.

I also make lighted clear plastic raincoats. The optical fiber I use for those I purchase on line. The high power LED's I purchase on-line. The lithium batteries I purchase on-line. The only thing I don't purchase on line is the clear vinyl, but I am engaged on an on-line discussion on LinkedIn on what materials I can use to replace the PVC for my clear raincoats.

I wear my lighted clothing and jewelry out and about. Undoubtedly, there are numerous pictures of me dressed up on-line that I don't know about. So what? Should I care?

Local police know that I do this stuff. Most likely the local FBI, CIA, Secret Service, and other 3 letter agencies know about this. You do a google search for lighted clear plastic raincoats, you will see me right up there in the images section.

And, so far, cross my fingers, no one has sent me to Guitanimio or any other place.

:)