December 18, 2004
Commentary:
I suspect the irony is lost on them
By Jack GrantVia Dean's World:
A.C.L.U.'s Search for Data on Donors Stirs Privacy Fears
By STEPHANIE STROMPublished: December 18, 2004
The American Civil Liberties Union is using sophisticated technology to collect a wide variety of information about its members and donors in a fund-raising effort that has ignited a bitter debate over its leaders' commitment to privacy rights.
Some board members say the extensive data collection makes a mockery of the organization's frequent criticism of banks, corporations and government agencies for their practice of accumulating data on people for marketing and other purposes.
An object lesson on how easy it is for any organization to stage a creeping invasion of privacy.
In the midst of appreciating the irony in all its lugubrious glory, we should stop and think about the broader implications. They are neither pretty nor comforting.
This is not lost on me, but I had to comment on the word choice... Whenever we go to my folk's house my Dad chooses a word for my son to learn. Two years ago it was 'lugubrious'. It is now our joke word... when we go home we try to use it as often as possible. Can you imagine picking that word as the word of choice for a 7 year old? He did it tongue in cheek, but it was still very funny.
Posted by: Boudicca at December 18, 2004 05:25 PM
