Big Brother Comes to Washington

Be careful what you wish for. You may get it. -- Old Irish warning.

There is no privacy on the internet. -- Pug Mahoney

"Big Brother is watching you." -- "1984," by George Orwell

   Congress took a big step toward ending all privacy rights for stuff people put on their computers. That includes stuff like medical and financial data, the comments you make on chat sites, your emails, and anything else you may store on your computer, including your internet browsing.
   As it is, whenever you shop around or get curious about something, that info is stored in the internet carrier's database, and advertisers use it to focus their ads on potential customers based on what the customers have been looking at.
   The Federal Communications Commission, however, has held that common carriers such as AT&T and Verizon must protect users' privacy. Other internet providers are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission, which has looser privacy regulations.
   Now the Republican-controlled Congress wants to streamline all the rules, putting them under the jurisdiction of the FTC, instead of the competing rules of the FCC.
   It may sound  efficient, but at stake is the privacy rights of computer users. Already, these rights are much more strongly protected in Europe. Removing them for American consumers will rebound to an international trade clash.
   So while advertisers would dearly love to have more detailed information about who's looking at what while they browse the internet, including whether these browsers have good financial resources and a bunch or friends with similar resources, as well as political views, or any and all of their other interests, this question comes up: What right does corporate America -- or anyone else -- have to butt into my affairs?
   European nations say consumers have wide rights of privacy. If the GOP has its way, American consumers will have virtually none, unless they stop using computers entirely.
   Time was, Americans worried about what the neighbors would think. Now, either they don't care, or they believe their desktop computers, their smart phones or other devices are safe from spying by government or corporate busybodies.
   They ain't. There is very little, if any, privacy on the internet. Now Congress is removing what little is left.
   This sets up a clash with European standards, and in turn will affect trade relations, customer relations, and political relations.
   Big Brother is pleased.