If you think the only people who use spyware-disguised-as-helpful-tools are good parents tracking troubled teens, think again. Having studied Internet abuses for many years, I can tell you that many husbands and wives track their spouses, ex's track their old partners, children track their parents, business managers track employees, and so on. Two articles in the fall of 2007, should give every individual food for thought: Tell-All PCs and Phones Transforming Divorce and Is Anything Private Anymore?

Human rights around the world are built on the ethical principle that here in the U.S. we call the Golden Rule: "Treat others as you would want to be treated." You would be justifiably outraged to discover that someone has been spying, tracking, or documenting every word you uttered. Yet online, millions are spying on others every day (although few want to be on the receiving end). Where is the dividing line between the protective use of such tools and abuse? How much are we willing to erode personal rights to privacy?

For example, there seems to be an attitude that as long as companies that make "parental controls" claim their services are designed to protect children, then anything they choose to sell is acceptable. But it is time to establish a clear distinction between protecting children on the Internet and conducting full-scale espionage against them – and anyone else someone cares to track. (It's also instructive to understand that companies who profit from people's fear promote panic. Read my blog on this subject.)

In this post 9/11 world we have steadily watched the erosion of privacy under the justification of increased "safety". Yet the right to privacy is one of the core principles in safety; are we making the right tradeoffs? Make no mistake: if you justify the right to abuse the privacy of one person, it erodes the privacy of society as a whole. Just because tools are available to allow one person to stalk, monitor, spy, or track, another does not mean it is acceptable.

Linda

Tip  If you are considering the use of parental controls, first read my blog Why "Parental Controls" Won't Work, but Family Safety does.