ABSTRACT
The stakes are very high and the solutions very difficult because many of the most positive aspects of current and emerging digital cultures are closely tied to forces capable of developing into one or another kind of oppressive surveillance society. There is a myriad of disturbing, systematic, largely invisible ways in which digital culture slashes through privacy. The amount of information Internet service providers, search engines, websites, social networking sites and other digital spaces have gathered on individuals is truly staggering. There are legitimate gatherers of data, and important kinds of information that can be gained from digital data gathering. The inherently porous, multi-entry system that is the Net means privacy is nearly impossible to maintain for any data that makes it onto the digital grid. Online privacy laws are particularly weak in the US, the place where they are arguably most needed given that it is home to the largest digital media conglomerates.
