The Privacy Pinch

摘要

The right to privacy will help define the next decade for the Internet-whether it thrives anew or gets bound up in needless government interference. I fear the latter, for too many people are confusing right to privacy with simple annoyance. This has led to something worse: cries for legislation-premature legislation. In an Internet industry that won't stand up to complaints and cannot seem to self-regulate, some I-boneheads are actually inviting government legislation, according to some published reports. What are they thinking? Lawmakers hardly need any goading, as they have proposed dozens of privacy laws already. The inclusive Financial Services Modernization Act has just been passed and covers some privacy issues. Take a look at Senator Patrick Leahy's S-854, otherwise known as the Electronic Rights Act of the 21st Century, for even more protection. Overprotection, in fact.