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Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of Michigan Citizens for Science and co-founder of The Panda's Thumb. He has written for such publications as The Bard, Skeptic and Reports of the National Center for Science Education, spoken in front of many organizations and conferences, and appeared on nationally syndicated radio shows and on C-SPAN. Ed is also a Fellow with the Center for Independent Media and the host of Declaring Independence, a one hour weekly political talk show on WPRR in Grand Rapids, Michigan.(static)

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Badass Quote of the Day

Posted on: February 7, 2010 9:09 AM, by Ed Brayton

"Depending on the government to protect your privacy is like asking a peeping tom to install your window blinds."

John Perry Barlow

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Perhaps this should specify 'the executive arm of government', since one could argue that laws protecting your privacy are, in fact, part of government.

Posted by: Nils Ross | February 7, 2010 9:20 AM

Nils, I suspect he means it to apply to the legislature as well. Laws protecting your privacy are indeed part of government, which may explain why they are so very weak, and unlikely to get stronger.

So the kids they dance
And shake their bones,
And the politicians throwin' stones,
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down.
Ashes, ashes, all fall down.

(My favorite John Perry Barlow song)

Posted by: Johnny Vector | February 7, 2010 9:48 AM

Depending on the telecom companies to protect your privacy is like inviting them into your bedroom.

Posted by: Reverend Rodney | February 7, 2010 10:07 AM

The quote is right on as are the comments.
And not form a conspiracy point of view either.
It is just that when there are large numbers of people in charge there are some who get carried away with the use of power (GWB anyone) try to take it away &/or abuse their power because they think they know better; then others follow who can be worse. Sooner or later you end up with USSR, Hitler, or Islam,or Xtian theocracy and any number of other groups who think they can make sure you toe the line by looking into your business and activities.

Posted by: CybrgnX | February 7, 2010 4:22 PM

Government isn't the problem. Left to its own devices the government would still be using hard-wire taps. It is the corporations that develop, accommodate and sell surveillance systems and their benefits to government. It is usually private contractors that are carrying it out. The "total information awareness" concept was proposed and developed by industry and sold to the government.

On the other hand the motivation of a corporation is always profit. There is a grand profit to be made taking away your privacy and then selling it back to you a piece at a time.

Identity theft is allowed by the simplistic security systems demanded by the credit card companies. Much of your financial information is accessible by inputting your user name, your name, and password, your SSN. A security system where the user name is obvious and the password is never changed is pretty poor. But it is kept easy to crack because identity theft can be used as a threat to motivate people to buy 'credit monitoring services' and 'identity protection'.

It is like outlawing locks on houses so they can sell you police protection. For ten dollars a month they let you have a bathroom door.

Posted by: Art | February 7, 2010 5:07 PM

Oi! I resemble that remark! I work for an Australian government information and statistics agency, and we are very very careful about releasing information. Our director refused to give out identifying information even in the face of police with a subpoena. It can be done right.

Posted by: Cath the Canberra Cook | February 8, 2010 1:55 AM

I usually thrill to the Badass Quotes, but this is just lame. It reads like a line from a Libertarian stump speech. I suppose when Galtco announces its IPO from its redoubt in Colorado, we'll all bow to The Great and Powerful Market, where companies that share my personal information will get their comeuppance, you bet! In the meantime, don't report identity theft, go find the motherf***er and do some thieving on his breathing!

Posted by: clamboy | February 8, 2010 9:40 PM

Yeah, and depending on government to - for instance - provide social welfare, or put out fires, or manage the environment wisely is also like asking a peeping tom to install your window blinds.

You think the government is intrusive and without respect for privacy? You haven't lived in a corporatist state. Apologies for those that already do (*cough* verizon *cough cough*).

The rightful warden of the public good is a democratically elected government.

Posted by: Paul Murray | February 12, 2010 9:13 PM