Facebook, Google and Privacy

There's been a great deal of discussion (controversy?) recently regarding personal privacy and the pursuit of profit. Many pundits are concerned that businesses are putting personal data at risk for financial gains.And so the question is being asked: Are Facebook and Google contributing to an erosion of personal privacy?So let's take a look at that, shall we? If you want to find personal information about somebody, are you really dependent on Google? Or Facebook? Really? No… not really.In fact, there's LOTS of personal information that's been available to academics and demographers for years.For example, take the State of North Carolina, USA. The NC State Board of Elections website is a great place to start as it provides a form for checking *my* registration. And only two bits of data are required — first and last names.Let's take a look at a public figure, Richard Burr. He's North Carolina's senior Senator.Look what's available: his full name, voter registration number, registration date, address and race.Let's see you get that info from Facebook. Not likely.Now we know his home address is in Forsyth County, so let's visit the Forsyth County Tax Administration website (continue reading...)