On the NSA’s Data-Mining of Phones and Online Activity
I don’t have a lot to say about this, partially because I think you can just read this already well written and to the point post by John Scalzi, and you’ll know pretty much my exact response too (like, the degree to which Scalzi sums up my own thoughts is stunning. Thank you sir, you’re a scholar and a gentleman). His last paragraph is pretty telling all around:
And again, this lack of surprise is separate and independent from my thoughts on whether this assumed suctioning up of my data is correct, just or right. What I’m saying is that I’m not especially outraged at the moment. It’s hard to be outraged for an entire decade. At least it is for me.
I think it is important to have reasonable debate about what degree of privacy we should have online and through phones, both from the government and other entities. However, regardless of that, I have not, for a very long time, harbored a delusion of that privacy, and so, at the best, I try to make sure my presence in these places, is general respectful, not violating any laws, and not compromising me personally. That is about the best we can ever do right?
For those of you surprised by these revelations. Welcome of the real world. Sometimes it is a scary and uncomfortable place.
