Isn't it ironic, don't you think? Here I am posting on an open blog, which you can find linked from my public twitter profile, on the lack of privacy in our lives.
The video above is from the Next HOPE(Hackers on Planet Earth) conference at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City on July 16-18, 2010. The speaker, Steven Rambam, is a private investigator with decades of experience, including hunting down Nazi war criminals. At almost 3 hours, the talk is really long but very informative. I listened to it today while working and some of the details were startling.
Now it's not breaking news that everything I do on the web is tracked and logged, but sometimes hearing it laid out can be jaw dropping. Whether it's my deleted myspace page or the hidden code in all photos that reveal your exact location, the information is always out there. And the best part is I am actively giving it away. It's a scary thought but really most of the information that is being gathered isn't for some nefarious government program like Skynet, it's simply an effort to make money off of you.
I'm torn by all of this. On one hand I really don't like the idea that people have all this information on me and are making money off of it. However on the other hand, what is my option. I'm not going to go all Unabomber and run off and live in a shack in Montana. In some ways I look at the information I put out there as controlling the narrative because if I don't do it, someone else will.
The talk is an important reminder to always think before you post anything anywhere. The mantra I always try and live by is WWMTOT. What Would Mom Think Of This.
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