Comments on: The government is looking out for you http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/04/21/the-government-is-looking-out-for-you/ Think. It ain't illegal yet... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:26:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: felixwas http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/04/21/the-government-is-looking-out-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-4404 felixwas Sun, 22 Apr 2007 01:04:54 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=572#comment-4404 Several weeks ago, I received a check in the mail as part of a settlement in a class-action lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company. I didn't realize I'd been part of the lawsuit, and I couldn't remember what I'd been taking the drug in question for. I think it was an anti-inflammatory I was taking for knee problems. But this episode made me realize that none of us have any secrets anymore. Several weeks ago, I received a check in the mail as part of a settlement in a class-action lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company. I didn’t realize I’d been part of the lawsuit, and I couldn’t remember what I’d been taking the drug in question for. I think it was an anti-inflammatory I was taking for knee problems. But this episode made me realize that none of us have any secrets anymore.

]]> By: roriblack http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/04/21/the-government-is-looking-out-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-4403 roriblack Sat, 21 Apr 2007 22:28:32 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=572#comment-4403 Two words - RFID tags Two words – RFID tags

]]> By: Martin http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/04/21/the-government-is-looking-out-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-4402 Martin Sat, 21 Apr 2007 22:17:34 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=572#comment-4402 Absolutely. I despise loyalty card programs for the same reason--that data is sold and resold to affiliates, third parties, and people so far removed from the source it's a wonder they don't just give it away. And then the information can be used in all manner of unsavory instances--"Why, Mr. Bosworth, we noticed in your buying purchases that you've been picking up several packages of Trojan condoms a month. You must be AN UNFIT FATHER! THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!!!11111ONE" We are fast evolving into a society where data that is meaningless on its own is quickly recontextualized into being used as a portrait of you, one that never goes away or changes. All you are is your credit rating, your job record, and what you buy. And like the man said, I do not hold to that. Absolutely. I despise loyalty card programs for the same reason–that data is sold and resold to affiliates, third parties, and people so far removed from the source it’s a wonder they don’t just give it away.

And then the information can be used in all manner of unsavory instances–”Why, Mr. Bosworth, we noticed in your buying purchases that you’ve been picking up several packages of Trojan condoms a month. You must be AN UNFIT FATHER! THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!!!11111ONE”

We are fast evolving into a society where data that is meaningless on its own is quickly recontextualized into being used as a portrait of you, one that never goes away or changes. All you are is your credit rating, your job record, and what you buy.

And like the man said, I do not hold to that.

]]> By: roriblack http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/04/21/the-government-is-looking-out-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-4401 roriblack Sat, 21 Apr 2007 22:13:50 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=572#comment-4401 Your first point was the one that scared me. Who's to say that this DB won't be used for security clearances for jobs, gun purchases, HR. Imagine an unscrupulous lawyer using social engineering to find out that you have been taking anti-psychotics ... for restless leg syndrome... and using your "mental health issues" against you. Your first point was the one that scared me. Who’s to say that this DB won’t be used for security clearances for jobs, gun purchases, HR.

Imagine an unscrupulous lawyer using social engineering to find out that you have been taking anti-psychotics … for restless leg syndrome… and using your “mental health issues” against you.

]]> By: Martin http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/04/21/the-government-is-looking-out-for-you/comment-page-1/#comment-4400 Martin Sat, 21 Apr 2007 21:58:09 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=572#comment-4400 I've railed against any sort of central medical database for years now, and this is another example. Consider the multiple potential abuses of this information: * That first bullet could conceivably be used for employment evaluations or job interviews. Really--it wouldn't take more than a minute amount of bullshitting for some HR department to get access to those records. Think of how many companies have mandated fitness and health programs today, and then wonder how quickly you'd lose your job if someone found out you were on antidepressants. * The potential for identity theft and fraud is rampant. Any crooked HHS employee or contractor could access the data, sell it, and get it into the "underground economy" where it's reused to buy expensive new drugs for meth production. Since these folks already have records, no one will question it, and the innocent will foot the bill. * And as you say, the invasion of our privacy is so terrible in this regard that Louis Brandeis wouldn't just roll in his grave, he'd come shambling out of it like a wrathful zombie. Disgusting. I’ve railed against any sort of central medical database for years now, and this is another example. Consider the multiple potential abuses of this information:

* That first bullet could conceivably be used for employment evaluations or job interviews. Really–it wouldn’t take more than a minute amount of bullshitting for some HR department to get access to those records. Think of how many companies have mandated fitness and health programs today, and then wonder how quickly you’d lose your job if someone found out you were on antidepressants.

* The potential for identity theft and fraud is rampant. Any crooked HHS employee or contractor could access the data, sell it, and get it into the “underground economy” where it’s reused to buy expensive new drugs for meth production. Since these folks already have records, no one will question it, and the innocent will foot the bill.

* And as you say, the invasion of our privacy is so terrible in this regard that Louis Brandeis wouldn’t just roll in his grave, he’d come shambling out of it like a wrathful zombie.

Disgusting.

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