Privacy is not for sale, and neither is democracy

"This erosion of privacy is not happening in the shadows; it is a core characteristic of the digital economy. We, as consumers, have grown accustomed to the relentless data collection that fuels the Internet. We "consent" to having our clicks, locations, messages and preferences tracked, packaged, and sold over and over again. The primary actors in this data marketplace are private companies, driven by large profits from targeted advertising. The problem is that their most eager customer is increasingly the U.S. government."

"The Fourth Amendment protects people's privacy. This constitutional protection is intended to shield people's private lives against government intrusion. Generally, the government cannot enter someone's home unless a judge issues a warrant. However, in the digital age this shield is no longer holding up. As people share their personal data for access to news, social media and other content, the government can simply purchase the data it wants; no warrant needed."

"A declassified report recently confirmed that our own intelligence agencies have been acquiring vast troves of Americans' personal information from commercial data brokers. In one reported case, Customs and Border Protection bought access to travelers' domestic flight records, short-circuiting oversight required for direct government data collection. This practice represents a profound threat that transcends consumer rights. It is a structural threat to the very foundation of democracy."

The Fourth Amendment's protections for privacy are eroding as routine commercial data collection enables government access without warrants. Consumers routinely consent to tracking of clicks, locations, messages and preferences that private companies package and sell for targeted advertising. Intelligence agencies and law enforcement increasingly acquire Americans' personal information from commercial data brokers, sometimes purchasing datasets that would otherwise require judicial oversight. Examples include Customs and Border Protection buying travelers' domestic flight records. The merging of corporate data collection and state power creates a de facto public-private surveillance partnership that chills free speech, association and dissent and poses a structural threat to democratic foundations.

Read at The Hill