Americans do have a serious privacy crisis, but it's not coming from the government

[apples and oranges]

When it comes to privacy, we should be shouting from the rooftops about websites and companies selling our email addresses and personal information, which then end up on public websites like spokeo, zabasearch, and pipl.

Just think about it for a second. Potential employers are screening applicants through google and social networks. If you blog or do anything online to anger a random person, that random person could publish your details so that a gang of online bullies can make harassing phone calls, send threatening letters, or even drop by for a visit. Women especially are more likely to be attacked by strangers due to personal information published online. All a pervert has to do is see an attractive picture on Facebook, google the name for all pertinent information including address, and then stalk for a few days before attacking.

Now compare that to the government collecting nameless, faceless, audioless metadata about international phone calls. Now which is worse? I'm not denying the potential for abuse of the metadata. I definately don't agree with the fish net approach the government is using to stop terrorists, but it's time we called out Google, FaceBook, and all the other sites that have virtually destroyed our privacy online. Their practices are worse than anything the government has done (with regard to privacy).

[Warpy]

1. Facebook makes its money

through data mining its customers. It's one of the many reasons I don't have an account there. I didn't like their business model.

Besides, I don't want to hear from people in my past. They're in my past for a lot of good reasons.

[Trillo]

2. "Potential employers are screening applicants through google and social networks."

You know, there isn't much reason to ever fill out an job application beyond name and social security number.

Just think of the possibilities, everything is known about you by everybody! If you have a skill that's needed, employers will be applying to you! Knock knock, "Wanna Job?"

If you're poor, you can keep begging, but maybe in popular culture the job application will be renamed to something more accurate, like the Begging Report. This will help to insure you understand your low-class status.

[Eleanors38]

3. Good points. I notice folks applying for food service jobs

Want to get past the fill it out & leave it stage and strongly and immediately solicit an interview.