Reply #11: A M$ executive recently suggested an Internet Drivers License of some sort [View All]

[ProgressiveProfessor]

There are days I agree with him due to the sheer stupidity that I see online. Heard a recent radio story about Tweeting where you are and since you post enough personal information there and on Facebook, you end up on a burglar's to do list. Whose fault is that?

At some point adults have to take responsibility for their own decisions. Not sure how to protect those who chose not to protect themselves. Europe has a pretty serious privacy expectation, but that is not the case in the US. I also do not trust data aggregators to do the right thing, even if their motto is "Don't do Evil". In the end, it is up to the individual. Larry Ellison was right when he said there is no real privacy in the world today. The information about the risks is out there, perhaps more people need to spread the word.

I do take some personal action to counter some of this. These kinds of topics come up in some of the classes I teach. Some of the students at the lower levels are astounded by some of this. It opens their eyes quite widely. I also have taught computer literacy for adults over the years. I have an entire section on practicing safe software. I used to use a mouse in a condom as a visual aid, but got too many complaints. You get the idea.

Like politics I think the best course is to talk to/educate those around you, and then encourage those to do the same.