Why security and privacy are linked

Mitch Wagner, TechWeb Security Pipeline

Mass surveillance simply creates an illusion of security, as described in a recent report by the International Campaign Against Mass Surveillance (link via Bruce Schneier). The databases are faulty, they create large numbers of false positives and false negatives. Honest citizens are, at best, subjected to humiliating searches and delays and, at worst false imprisonment. "[D]emocratic institutions and protections, which would be the safeguards of individuals' personal security, are being weakened. And national sovereignty and the ability of national governments to protect citizens against the actions of other states (when they are willing) are being compromised," the report says.

Link via Privacy Digest.