I was amused by a recent Associated Press story reporting that the latest in TV technology,
TiVo, sends back information to the company about our viewing habits that is, in turn, sold to
TV networks and the like.

By amused, of course, I mean scared witless.

But the TiVo people say I shouldn’t be. According to the article, Matt Zinn, TiVo’s “privacy
officer” said “We don’t disclose personally identifiable information as a matter of policy, and
we won’t as a matter of policy.”

Offering additional assurances TiVo’s technology officer, Jim Burton, bent his syntax saying
“We could modify our systems to do so, but we’re not.”

Phew! Boy am I relieved. Mr. Zinn used the word “policy” twice, so that pretty much seals the
deal. I mean, what are the odds that a corporation would entertain a policy change at some point
in the future just because it might prove profitable or expedient to do so? And Mr. Burton’s
assurances that “we could but we won’t” have the ring of a playground bully who wants you
to know he could kick your butt anytime he really wanted to.

In what could only be described as a cynical admission, other TiVo spokes people refer
consumers to their Web site to read their “latest” privacy policy statement. In other words, it
has already changed frequently enough to tout a “latest” version, but their word is their bond.
It is the NuSpeak of the digital generation. Everything is dispensed in versions, even their
various takes on truth. One cannot help but wonder if they will start offering product warranties
in the beta version.

In short, TiVo is one policy change and two lateral transfers away from selling our channel
surfing souls to NBC or Nabisco or whoever wants it for a few pieces of silver.

I don’t really care whether my viewing habits are reported somewhere. That isn’t what scares
me. What scares me are all these “assurances.”

Back when Social Security numbers were first issued, the government assured Americans that
they were NOT being issued national identification numbers. They said the number was
necessary for the sole purpose of maintaining our Social Security accounts for our retirement
benefits.

Try to get a credit card, a bank account, a job or a driver’s license without providing a Social
Security number and see if you can detect a policy shift.

And what drove the U.S. government to change their policy? The same thing that precedes most felonies.

Motive and opportunity.

The government changed their “policy” because they could and because there was a profit
motive at work. Numbers are much easier to “track” than Christian names, and so it was
ordained.

Do any of us truly believe that TiVo’s ability to reach into our living rooms and make digital
observations about our TV viewing won’t be enhanced by future technological developments?
Does anyone think that digital phone conversations and e-mail transmissions aren’t already
being monitored by “hackers” who are motivated to do so for the sheer thrill of figuring out
how?

I can’t wait for the first offer by security companies to install cameras in our houses so that the
safety of the sick and elderly can be checked from their control rooms. That ought to make us
all feel better. Maybe that has already happened. If so don’t tell me about it. My paranoia is
already working overtime. You know, just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean nobody is
keeping tabs on me.

Still I am assured that nobody will use the information they get from simply “watching” me
24/7 for any illicit purposes.

I will know this because they will tell me so.

They will have a policy against it.