Rights being violated and privacy invaded?

2009-06-11

Are your rights being violated and your privacy invaded?  You be the judge. 

A database covering all of the MS Messenger instant-messaging network in June 2006, along with massive databases of cell phone records consisting of users' location and patterns of contact are being studied by researchers to understand "human movements" and "social networks.

In addition to the chat and cellphone databases media/broadcast companies are tracking activity as well. "Receivers, televisions and even radios are becoming two-way devices capable of sending information back to service providers."
An example is, counting people during the Superbowl who "played back" (rewound) material on their DVRs. Findings established the commercials were watched by people more than the game.

Sources:

http://sites.google.com/site/theotherviewsite/Home/TOV01-Studyconfirms%27KevinBacon%27theory-WashingtonPost-msnbc.pdf?attredirects=0

http://sites.google.com/site/theotherviewsite/Home/TOV01-SuperBowlXLIIMayBeSecondmostwatched.pdf?attredirects=0

http://sites.google.com/site/theotherviewsite/Home/TOV01-TiVowatchersuneasy.pdf?attredirects=0

i wonder if there is a way to opt out. I suspect there isn't. Places like Domino's Pizza are keeping databases of their customers as well. I haven't placed an order in over 3 months and the worker is asking me if I want the same thing I ordered last time... what the hell is that crap?!