Two amazing articles jumped out at me the other day:
Government Uses Color Laser Printer Technology to Track Documents
If you have a color printer, you may notice tiny yellow type–the serial number of your printer.
This strikes me as nothing short of amazing, considering that anonymous speech has been a cherished American ideal since the time of the early colonial press (anonymous letters and columns were commonly printed and carried some weight with the public). From corporate scandals, to underground newspapers, to private mailings…the ability to use the modern press absent the fear of retribution (from the government or any other body) should be an essential feature of our modern communication landscape.
Homeland Security To Launch RFID Systems At Border Crossings
Non-citizen visitors (even those with visas) who cross American borders will be required to post a card on their dashboard containing a chip which allows the vehicle to be tracked when entering/leaving the country.
Yet this may allow the chips to be tracked anywhere within the country (perhaps by a highway patrol person). The safety of our country is indeed a concern (especially at the borders), but it should not come at the cost of infringing on individual liberty to freely move about our lands as long as they do so within the law. To me, this sort of rule falls under the “do unto others…” principle.
General Comment
Modern technology gives us the potential to manage a vast amount of the data in our lives. Yet when this data is created in an individually-identifyable way, convienence may turn into danger. When data is collected covertly, under federal requirement, or in an opt-out manner, it removes one’s right live and express his or herself in an environment without fear of criticism or punishment.