Don't kid yourself. Real privacy no longer exists in this country.
We've long had government organizations collecting data that paints a pretty clear picture
of what we do with our time. The Internal
Revenue Service knows everything about what you earn and any major transactions you
make. It can access every bit of information it needs to determine how much money you
should be sending on April 15.
The most important gatherer of personal information in the country is the Federal Bureau
of Investigation. It keeps a database of over 90 million fingerprints, which can be
accessed by other law enforcement agencies. It also has an extensive database of DNA, the
most specific marker of personal identity. The bureau's ability to collect information
expanded following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It now tracks a large portion
of mail, cell phone traffic and Internet activity of people it deems suspicious.
Thanks to advances in technology, however, there are also now numerous private enterprises
that track and record your every move. Although they don't usually give out this
information, there are often worrisome leaks and security breaches where they
inadvertently release sensitive information about their customers. Taken together, these
industries have data on where you are, who you are communicating with, how you are earning
your money, how you are spending that money, as well as the hobbies and interests you are
pursuing.
We examined a large number of organizations to find the most intrusive firms and
industries. Here they are, ranked by the number of people they track:
1) Credit Rating Agencies
With each firm having files on over 200 million people, the three credit bureaus --
Equifax (EFX),
Experian (EXPGY),
and TransUnion -- know not only your credit history, but also
have the data to project your credit future. The companies collect a history of all credit
use by an individual, including payment of bills, mortgages, and credit cards. The
agencies also track the frequency with which a person applies for credit. That information
is used to determine a person's credit risk through a credit score. These scores are
produced using secret algorithms, ensuring that the bureaus know much more about you than
you know about them.
2) Cell Phone Service Providers
As cell phone popularity has increased and technology has evolved, cell phone companies
have come to possess a wealth of information about their customers. Covering over 90% of
the American population, cell phone providers can tell who you call, when you call, how
often you call certain people and what you say in your text messages. With GPS, they also
now know where you are whenever you have your phone. As smartphones become the equivalent
of miniature computers, cellular companies can also track personal behavior, such as use
of multimedia and wireless e-commerce transactions.
3) Social Media Companies
In its ascent to Internet superpower, social enterprise Facebook has amassed an enormous
amount of user information. Who your friends are, what you like, and what photos you are
in are all information that the company has access to. That, however, is not the full
extent of it. Facebook also tracks which profiles you view, who you communicate with most
often, companies and causes you support, your personal calendar, and a great deal of
personal information about your friends and family. Perhaps most surprising, Facebook can
access much of the information you may have deleted, including photos and status updates,
from their servers.
4) Credit Card Companies
There are currently 610 million credit cards owned by U.S. consumers. In an economy
dominated by credit, the amount of power held by credit card companies, such as Visa (V), MasterCard (MA) and American Express (AE), should not be surprising. They
know their customers' credit scores, credit histories, what they buy, when they buy, and
when they are likely to default on their payments. The interest rates charged for credit
fluctuates based on their analysis of individuals' ability to pay back the debts they
incur. Some of the information kept by credit card companies can help consumers, however.
Algorithms that study buying patterns, for instance, are used to detect fraud.
5) Search Engines
Every search you perform on Google (GOOG) goes into the
Internet giant's database, which it uses to keep a profile of your habits and interests.
The search engine also keeps track of which links you click on during your search and
which advertisers you visit. Google uses your interest profile and search history to place
targeted ads in your browser. Perhaps most disturbingly, Google uses its Gmail service to
monitor the content of your email in order to place targeted advertising in your email
account. Google also keeps records of account and credit card information for everyone who
uses their "Checkout" service, tracks which videos people watch on YouTube,
where people are planning to visit, and what they plan to do there. Google's
location-based map systems also allow the search company to know where people are in real
time through the use of smartphones and other GPS-enabled devices.
6) Retail Chains
Walmart (WMT)
uses data-mining services
to collect and store information for all its customers in a central location. This allows
it to determine the purchasing behavior of people who shop in its stores or on its
website. It also optimizes inventory distribution by determining which products people are
most likely to buy in the future. In August, Walmart began installing Radio Frequency
Identification Devices (RFID) in their underwear and jeans, which lets them track items
and customers around the store. This means they are able to determine how much time
someone who buys a specific pair of pants spends in each aisle. Walmart plans to use this
data to reorganize displays and further control inventory. The retail giant also sell this
information to thousands of other businesses, who use consumer profiles for advertising
and demographic research.
7) Casinos
Casinos like the Wynn Resorts (WYNN) are
increasingly using "loyalty cards" to monitor the behavior of their patrons. The
Wynn "red" cards are used in place of tokens, and allow the casino to keep track
of which machines and tables each gambler visits on a regular basis, the path they take
during their visits (using RFID chips), and even how often and how much they are willing
to lose before giving up. When a slot machine in Wynn detects a gambler is close to his
breaking point, it will issue a small payout in order to keep him spending money.
8) Banks
Large banks, such as Bank of America (BAC),
Chase (JPM)
and Citibank (C), have access to
customer account information, which includes savings, employer payroll deposits, and the
time and date of ATM and teller visits. They track transfers made by account holders to
third parties. A bank also knows your income, your salary, and your balance,
moment-by-moment. Perhaps among the most confidential data a bank keeps is how often
people move money in and out of accounts. Banks know how much you save each month, and
often exactly how those savings are invested. Banks use this information to assess the
risk of giving you a mortgage or loan, and they are legally allowed to use data-mining
companies to check your website activity.
9) Life Insurance Companies
About 140 million households currently have life insurance. In order
to apply for life insurance, applicants generally must disclose their health history. This
includes incidence of heart disease, height, weight, smoking habits, and often includes
full records from your doctors. Perhaps more invasive, life insurers seek disclosure of
hospitalization for mental illness, use of illegal drugs, and whether or not you have had
to file for bankruptcy. Insurance companies use a national prescription database to
determine whether or not you have ever been prescribed medication. And certain high-risk
professions and hobbies usually have to be disclosed. (9.24.2010, Douglas McIntyr) http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/credit/who-is-watching-you-nine-industries-that-know-your-every-move/19629445
The fact is that "political correctness" is all about creating uniformity. Individualism is one of the biggest obstacles in the way of the New World Order. They want a public that is predictable and conditioned to do as it's told without asking questions.
"The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first." Thomas Jefferson