Privacy, PCs and the Web

Probably it's best just to accept that we have no provacy any more and get on with our lives. But none-the-less I get hot under the collar over provacy issues. The Howard govt ignoring privacy in private enterprise got to me, but then they had to back off at the insistence of a prviate sector which feared not being able to deal with European countries which demand some level of guaranteed privacy for their citizens. Naturally, the Liberal Govt's answer was simply self regulation, which is always rather open to abuse, but that's another issue.

But Monday's computer column in the local paper's computer pages reminded me of my concerns over privacy issues, esp in the corporate world. I quote:

"Microsoft has admitted that its latest Media Player software - suplied free with Windows XP - is keeping a log of the songs, and movies accessed by individual Windows users without their knowledge. The company changed its privacy statement on Wednesday, after inquiries by the Press, to notify customers of the technology. Although Media Player 8 creates a list on each computer that couldbe a treasure for marketing companies, Microsoft says it has no plans to sell the data" (Meagrebytes [column] in Canberra Times 25 Feb 2002 p. 16).

Let's hope that the capability in existing and coming IT power is not used by private or public sector to manipulate. But sadly, when a capability is available, it's often used, despite laws, best intentions, and the rest. No comment on meant on MS here, of course - this is just an example of the power, not of its misuse.