Too Much Information?

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that businesses use information ,such as market research data about an individual's personal preferences, purchasing ability and real or perceived needs, in almost every conceivable way in order to maximize profits. The author points out that the government also uses this information to control crime in many questionable ways, such as the prevalence of surveillance cameras. The paper argues that this massive-scale, intrusive data collection, maintenance and analysis may have its benefits but it should not be allowed to spread contagiously throughout society disregarding privacy and liberty. The paper includes long quotations.

From the Paper:

"The reality of the NSA spying program shows what can be accomplished by a government agency, operating in secret, supposedly against enemies of the American people. Some of the particular enemies being "data mined" appear to be more in the nature of political enemies, than threats to the lives of ordinary citizens. The ease with which this kind of surveillance can be accomplished should not be surprising rather it should encourage conscientious citizens to think of what else might be possible, and how all of one's information is being used, or misused."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Blitz, M. J. (2005). The Dangers of Fighting Terrorism with Technocommunitarianism: Constitutional Protections of Free Expression, Exploration, and Unmonitored Activity in Urban Spaces. Fordham Urban Law Journal, 32(4), 677+.
• Charp, S. (2003). Security and Privacy of Information. T H E Journal (Technological Horizons In Education), 31(2), 8.
• Mills, R. J. (2004). Using a Computer-Tracking System as an Unobtrusive Software Data Collection Technique. International Journal of Instructional Media, 31(3), 273+.
• Solove, D. J. (2001). Privacy and Power: Computer Databases and Metaphors for Information Privacy. Stanford Law Review, 53(6), 1393.
• Pincus, Walter. (1 January 2006). "NSA Gave Other U.S. Agencies Information From Surveillance; Fruit of Eavesdropping Was Processed and Cross-Checked With Databases." The Washington Post.

More papers on Too Much Information?:

• Analytical Essay # 117658 : "The CIO Who Admitted Too Much"
• Persuasive Essay # 133188 : "Information Overload: A Danger Equal to Information Poverty"
• Article Review # 103809 : "Information - Overload and Misinformation"

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