Editorial by Stephen Frank: “Privacy is Dead, Get Over It”

Editorial by Stephen Frank: “Privacy is Dead, Get Over It”

Editorial by Stephen Frank, 4/3/13 www.capoliticalnews.com

I will admit it, I am addicted to TV. More than ten shows are taped each week, just to keep me abreast of the latest Ewing intrigue, Psych, Mentalist and Castle comedy dramas, along with NCIS, NCIS LA and all forms of Law and Order. That is just to start!

TNT has a new show, “Monday Mornings”, a hospital drama. Excellent, I highly recommend it. The show last night blew up the canard of doctor confidentially, and with it, the whole concept of privacy in general. A well known judge, a possible Supreme Court appointee, had a brain problem. While it was being operated on, it was discovered she had a form of syphilis, and had it for more than 30 years. Only the doctors in the operating room knew about it.

Yet, a day later, it was on the national news. The head doctor held a meeting and accused the other doctor of leaking the information. He said he had not. Then another doctor said that doctor/patient confidentiality is dead, no longer exists.

She said that all in the operating room knew, the radiologist and the anesthesiologist knew, the nurses knew, the lab knew, the hospital accounting department knew (because of the drugs being used to cure it). In facts, hundreds of people had the information. Then she noted that hospital records had been hacked, numerous times. That anybody, anywhere in the world could get the records.

The doctor then noted that under ObamaCare all medical records, easily hacked will be online—and the Administration wants to know how many sex partners you have, alcohol intake, etc. Between ObamaCare and the IRS (also easily hacked) what secrets do you think you have?

She ended her rant with words that forced me to sit up. She said, “Privacy is dead, get over it”. She is right.

Drones overhead, red light camera’s on street corners. Private security camera’s in buildings and on streets. The Federal government Eschelon program, through the NSA, monitor all email, text message and phone calls—the government has a record. Then you have the Chinese hacking into our public and private systems.

In California hackers have gotten private information from the DMV and school district records. Some schools are keeping records on the parents and their lifestyles—think these will not be hacked?

Most of you have given direct or indirect permission to Internet sites like Google, the LA Times, Facebook and other major (and minor) web sites to keep AND distribute records of your Internet surfing. Go to a web site about guns and the government and the gun industry know you have an interest. I go to the Food Network site and start receiving foodie emails.

You need to live by the theory, everything you say and do is recorded and government and many in the private sector have the information. Your health, earning, finances, travels and recreation, all an open book.

Can we fight it? At this point I believe we have reached the tipping point. Due to technology there is little chance of rolling it back. Even local governments are buying drones to watch your move on public and private streets. Google has a system. Then you have GPS devices in cars and phones—your every move is watched.

There is too much money and power in information about individuals. That is why it can not be rolled back.

Privacy is dead, get over it.