This is a response to my article: Hey Duffy, No More Cameras!

Many Americans no longer understand the definition of privacy. It does not mean “I don’t have anything to hide” or “as long as they are watching everyone equally”. This is clearly one of the most difficult aspects of warning people about the growing police state in this country. If you don’t understand the basic definition of privacy then you won’t notice when you’re losing it. The New Oxford American Dictionary defines privacy as the following:

the state or condition of being free from being observed or disturbed by other people

Therefore, being observed is the opposite of privacy. It is impossible to say that the CCTV surveillance cameras in and around Rochester do not violate our privacy. Unfortunately, there is more to the issue of privacy than just the surveillance cameras. Below is an excerpt of a privacy study conducted last year that showed the US in the worst category (black - endemic surveillance) for privacy protection:

Leading surveillance societies in the EU and the World 2007

www.privacyinternational.org

28/12/2007

The 2007 International Privacy Ranking

State of Privacy Map

United States of America

In terms of statutory protections and privacy enforcement, the US is the worst ranking country in the democratic world. In terms of overall privacy protection the United States has performed very poorly, being out-ranked by both India and the Philippines and falling into the “black” category, denoting endemic surveillance.

No right to privacy in constitution, though search and seizure protections exist in 4th Amendment; case law on government searches has considered new technology

No comprehensive privacy law, many sectoral laws; though tort of privacy

FTC continues to give inadequate attention to privacy issues, though issued self-regulating privacy guidelines on advertising in 2007

State-level data breach legislation has proven to be useful in identifying faults in security

REAL-ID and biometric identification programs continue to spread without adequate oversight, research, and funding structures

Extensive data-sharing programs across federal government and with private sector

Spreading use of CCTV

Congress approved presidential program of spying on foreign communications over U.S. networks, e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, etc.; and now considering immunity for telephone companies, while government claims secrecy, thus barring any legal action

No data retention law as yet, but equally no data protection law

World leading in border surveillance, mandating trans-border data flows

Weak protections of financial and medical privacy; plans spread for ‘rings of steel’ around cities to monitor movements of individuals

Democratic safeguards tend to be strong but new Congress and political dynamics show that immigration and terrorism continue to leave politicians scared and without principle

Lack of action on data breach legislation on the federal level while REAL-ID is still compelled upon states has shown that states can make informed decisions

Recent news regarding FBI biometric database raises particular concerns as this could lead to the largest database of biometrics around the world that is not protected by strong privacy law