Balancing Privacy and Security: The Privacy Implications of Government Data Mining Programs

Leslie Harris of the Center for Democracy and Technology testified before the Senate that the existing legal framework
protecting Americans' privacy has been rendered ineffective by the march of technology,
and suggested that core laws like the Privacy Act have become inadequate.

MSNBC reports - "Bush defends spying after NSA database report". Newsweek, "The Other Big Brother".

Frontline - The Persuaders - data mining.| Who's watching Whom? | CNN - If you would like to rob a bank | Data Mining Doesn't Catch Terrorists

U. S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary January 10, 2007 meeting "Balancing Privacy and Security: The Privacy Implications of Government Data Mining Programs

Watch Government Use of Personal Information on CSPAN Washington Journal online January 13, 2007. (Use the video search)

Illegal drug use may be tracked with toilet waste By Amy Flashenberg, The Daily Collegian online. September 18, 2007

Consider a few of her suggestions regarding Government searches of your personal information.

Vigorous oversight of data mining.

Prohibit ineffective programs.

Privacy Act is being bypassed.

People should be able to appeal incorrect information.

What is data mining?

Food for thought - A student uses their bank MAC card to make fast food purchases. The student goes for a physical check up. About a month later the student gets a letter from the United States Department of Health and Human Services that suggests they need to make a change in their eating habits. It includes a low carb low fat diet plan "especially crafted for you." Among the suggestions is one that the student curtail consuming fast food. It goes on to show the student the amount of calories and fat they have consumed in fast food, over the past month.

Or imagine that the state's Civil Rights Commission is concerned that illegal aliens are being victimized. In an effort to target their message, they use data mining to identify people who watched a TV show or rented a movie that argued against illegal immigration. They send a copy of their tolerance guidelines to these people and urge them to attend a program in diversity.

What do you think about the government tracking your personal info?

Action:

Write a letter regarding this issue to one of the individuals that represent you in the U.S. Congress. Tell them how you feel about this issue and what you believe should be done about it. Endeavor to cite specific examples. Alternatively, you can write to someone who represents you at the state or local level.

Your challenges include: finding their office address, using the correct salutation including title, as well as, following appropriate business letter writing format.

*Many elected officials have an email form/link in their web site. It is reasonable to use this, in lieu of paper and postage, but format and style expectations will remain the same. Write the letter in word processing. Edit it as needed. Then copy .. paste it into the email form. Some have set a maximum character limit to emails. If that is the case, write the formal letter. Then drop the address heading and date from the email.

Or

Make a satirical video or multimedia presentation project regarding datamining and privacy.

The Yes Men - Examine this approach to dealing with the problem/issue. Examples: WTO/GATT | Dow- Union Carbide | Ice Age Petition - How to's for iMovie software

"We deal with a right of privacy older than the Bill of Rights - older than our political parties, older than our school system." William O. Douglas

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