I Spy – The End of Privacy

• Chen provides a number of specific ways that our always-on life style provides private information without permission to a variety of sources. While some of this may be harmless, several stories in this chapter are cause for concern. In some cases, published software contains code that seeks an Internet connection and sends data home. As you walk the street you also encounter hidden surveillance software that takes your picture without permission. Google Street View cars taking pictures for Google Maps harvested data from non-password-protected wireless networks. Facebook’s privacy policy comes under attack here. Police have the right to search your iPhone if you get stopped for something else. Technology outpaces preexisting legislation and no court has rules on the constitutionality of searching an iPhone. The key message is “think before you tweet.”

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