I think this is a good article, but I am often frustrated by discussions on digital privacy having such limited scope. It should be an international debate with a focus on international laws, or we are all in denial about what is at stake for the individual. This is bigger than Americans talking about American law that targets Americans.
I know many of you probably rolled your eyes at the mention of international law, but an individual's privacy on the Internet is an international problem (regardless of how effective you think international law is).
On the Internet, we are citizens of the world. We are all exploited at the horrible intersection of localized law, globalized technology and 20th century geography. Idealistically, the sooner that we realize two of those elements should be superseded, the better.
I agree with you in principle (I'm not an American), but I think the practicality is a little hard to enforce.
If, for example, the US discover China violating the privacy of US citizens - are they going to start dropping bombs? Attempting to place trade restrictions? You kind of need everyone to agree to the same laws, and particular ways to address failure to adhere to those laws. Not an easy problem, but one I hope can be solved.
What's even worse is that we are not only talking about the privacy laws targeted at corporations - who alone have proven to be difficult, see the discussions between the EU and the US - but about privacy laws targeted against intelligence services. And governments are especially stubborn that those should remain secret and unrestricted...
I know many of you probably rolled your eyes at the mention of international law, but an individual's privacy on the Internet is an international problem (regardless of how effective you think international law is).
On the Internet, we are citizens of the world. We are all exploited at the horrible intersection of localized law, globalized technology and 20th century geography. Idealistically, the sooner that we realize two of those elements should be superseded, the better.