As Access To Private Information Increases, So Must The Consequences of Misuse Increase

A string of recent articles concerning court cases in the US and Europe have revealed a disturbing, but easily predictable trend. Officials, judges, law makers, police officers, and others with access to the most highly private information are using that access to stalk, harass, and manipulate unsuspecting citizens.

Inside sources state that police in several jurisdictions are using their access to Department of Motor Vehicle records to "rate and date" women they search for in the data base. When questioned it was revealed that officers scanned the photos of thousands of women on the database and then used the information to stage "run ins" to ask for dates or simply stalked the women.  Officers admitted to using their access to keep tabs on ex-wives or ex-girlfriends, to gain private information about "friends" and family members and even changing information to cause distress or embarrassment to their victims. 

Several judges have also been caught up in recent cases concerning access to private information. The now disgraced Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan took nearly $3 million in payoffs to jail juveniles in a private jail system. The judges allegedly targeted children of poor or working class families, especially single parent families, who would be unlikely to have legal counsel. By discerning which parents would have the financial ability or education to fight their actions, the Judges were free to operate this "jailing kids for cash" scheme for years. 

Of course it isn't just officials who misuse their access and abuse their power, with medical files, credit reports, criminal files, and passport information now stored online, data entry people are using their access to stalk and harass as well. Some have even made a profitable sideline be providing the media (and others) with private information about the famous. In 2008, a former analyst for the State department Bureau of Intelligence and Research admitted to accessing the passport records, including applications, social security numbers, and other information of about 200 politicians and celebrities, including the Presidential candidates. He wasn't alone. 

Most of the private data held on Americans is controlled not by government agencies, but by private contractors, many not even housed in the United States. With little in the way of incentive to keep them from accessing and even disseminating private information, these data processing centers have become an identity theft and stalker's paradise with private information being sold online.  But equally troubling is the unfettered access by officials, some of which clearly do not have their responsibilities and oaths in mind. 

Of course its human nature to snoop. But it is because of this human nature factor that we must make the penalty for accessing and using private information, counter to purpose, a serious offense with painful consequences.