Do Not Disturb

Privacy is an issue that plagues us everyday. Whenever any of us sends an email it's tracked, and if you have a credit card or put your money in a bank, there are paper trails. Phones could be tapped, security cameras are everywhere, and Google maps has a picture of your home on the Internet for everyone to see. Mike Valentine is a blogger from Marina Del Rey, California. His blog is called, Protect Personal and Financial Privacy. Mike writes about privacy issues, identity theft, data security, and medical privacy matters. Anything you need to know about privacy, is probably archived somewhere in this blog.

One of the privacy issues that creates some controversy, is Google's Street View. This site enables anyone to Google an address or area of town, and see actual pictures of the area. It's a type of virtual tour that has caused some issues. One can see what the premise looks like, view what kind of cars you have in your driveway, and perhaps snap a picture of you watering your lawn in the morning, while wearing your bathrobe. Once, a picture was taken of a woman where her underwear was showing, due to the angle of the shot. Google promptly took down the picture, and now users are able to report inappropriate images. This is one step in the right direction, but do I really want people to be able to see what kind of cars I have parked in my driveway?

Behavioral targeting and online ads are another source of annoyance, when it comes to online privacy. Google, AOL, and many others have been following people's every move online, so ads can be targeted correctly. I have to admit, I did find the perfect bathing suit through one of those target ads. I'm not sure if I hate it all that much after finding such a gem. However, others feel that their privacy is at stake, and many companies are gaining a lot of information about their target audience. Does this make you uncomfortable? I'm still torn on the issue.

Privacy has become null is some aspects, but there are other options. You could just smash your Blackberry, sell your car, cancel all your credit cards, and go live in the forrest. The trees will make it hard for Google Street View to find you, and your privacy will be guaranteed.


Here is how to protect yourself online:

There really is a blog for everything

Net neutrality can be confusing. I had to look in all different directions to find answers to my questions about it. As it turns out, there's a blog about net neutrality! Who knew? Save the Internet, is a blog all about net neutrality, and it helped answer all of my questions. The blog explains what net neutrality is, and how people can get involved. It creates a forum for citizens to come together, and state their opinions on the matter.

Net neutrality (a.k.a network neutrality), is the principle that keeps the Internet open and free. It means there is no discrimination, as far as access to sites are concerned. It prevents providers from blocking, speeding up or slowing down web content, and ownership. According to Save the Internet, net neutrality is the driving force for many Internet liberties, such as: freedom of speech, economic innovation, and democratic participation. The site goes on to explain that the network's only job is to move all information, not choose information to move.

There has been talk of net neutrality changing drastically. Congress has had many bills set before them that reflect changes to net neutrality. Some people are worried that changing net neutrality will stifle the open Internet as we know it. It's believed that it will damage the ability to connect with others, and create filters in democratic and economic areas. It would also change the Internet for the small players in the field. The You Tubers, and Myspacers of today might just find themselves being censored tomorrow.

America is all about freedom. Does changing the rules of net neutrality seem fair to our country's belief system? Free press and free speech are what this country are built on. If this is changed, many will feel as though their rights as Americans were stripped from them. If we have our freedom taken away, what will we have left?