firefox, trackers and ghostery

[Robert Holtzman]

On Wed, Jul 17, 2013 at 02:28:43AM -0500, Sajan Parikh wrote:
> On 07/16/2013 03:17 AM, pete smout wrote:
> >Hi,
> >
> >I have no problem with limited data gathering for the reasons
> >described by our friendly web developer. The problem I have it it
> >now (perhaps always has) goes way beyond this! I am reminded of
> >the great trilogy by 'John Twelve Hawks' (which I will *not*
> >provide a link to for fear of infringing some out-of-date
> >copyright law!) when all data gathered from the web. as well as
> >card transactions and your movements are tracked by 'The Vast
> >Machine' and any deviation from your "normal" movements trigger an
> >alert, which is then passed on to the authorities. I have no wish
> >to live in this Orwellian nightmare.
> >
> >I agree that perhaps we are proverbially throwing the baby out
> >with the bath water, but what choice does the ordinary citizen
> >have? Our current governments (in both the UK & USA, and I am sure
> >others as well) seem to be more about control than they appear to
> >care about an individual persons liberty, and until this changes,
> >I am sorry to our developer friend, but he will have to work a bit
> >harder, but hopefully so will 'The Vast Machine'!
> >
> >Just the thoughts of a (now paranoid) citizen!
> >
> >Pete
> May I ask in what out any individual's liberty has been infringed
> upon?  In what way have Governments imposed any sort of 'control'
> upon its citizens with all of this?  Let's say PRISM began in 2007;
> How has your life in terms of liberty or deliberate personal
> invasion changed since then?

I think several people on this list, including you, are missing the
central point. Read the 5th Amendment. The right to remain silent
extends to everyday life, not just a police interrogation. When a
merchant asks for my information, it's my right, and I frequently
exercise it, to refuse to supply it. You don't have that ability with 
trackers (or for that matter with the NSA). The *right* is the point, 
not the information.

> 
> Everybody things that there's some personal file that identifies
> everyone by name and email address.  Sorry, but nobody is that
> special.  We're all just numbers and datapoints aggregated together.
> Unless of course you personally find time to fill out every survey
> you find.

No Sajan, *everybody* doesn't think that.

-- 
Bob Holtzman
If you think you're getting free lunch, 
check the price of the beer.
Key ID: 8D549279
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