Data Switzerland?

One of the features that drew people to the internet was anonymity. Let me rephrase it; one of the “intended” purposes of internet that drew people was anonymity. How “out of place” that idea seems in today’s turn of events.

Moving on…

I came across this interesting website http://battellemedia.com/archives/002997.php and the author’s thoughts are particularly relevant. He discusses third party access to individual information. For those who haven’t heard, search engines such as Google, Yahoo store users’ activities and information and have been known to hand these out to agencies seeking such information. Anyway, here’s John’s (Battell) idea...

“Anyway, one idea that's been bumping around my head a long time, and which I hope you all can help me think through, is the concept of what I'll call the "Data Switzerland." The concept is simple: why can't companies that hold massive amounts of our personally identifying information - companies like Yahoo, AOL, Google, Verizon, etc - simply warehouse that information in a country that has consumer-friendly data privacy laws? Why can't my search history, my particular entries in the database of intentions, my clickstreams, be housed in this Data Switzerland, if I so chose?”

I really like this idea. I haven’t put much thought into it but just the idea piques my interest. It might have something to do with reading all those CIA books, going through the Swiss Bank scenario several times. Anyway, could you imagine how that would be? Using a country’s laws to warrant easy and preferential protection of “assets”?

Even if you aren’t a journalism and media student, you should read the article. I worry; somehow the conglomerates or the government or our ubiquitous hacker, might find a way around this too. But so far, marvel in the thought of securing your data!

FYI, look at the update section at the end of the article. Great links provided.