We live in a world where the freedom of information is available to all and what that the line which separates the freedom of information and our private lives gets blurred, we are no longer just private citizens who live in the digital age but citizens whose private information is digitalised along with everything that is termed information. This is where the cost of freedom gets a bit higher than it used to be as for one known popular search engine called Google this freedom is exploited and even divulged to institutions, businesses and co-operations who use the information that they get from Google when you 'browse' or search for anything using their search engine. Lets say that something of national security interest you and you type in the search engine "terrorist bombs" , this new search query is now kept and listed in your search history that Google keeps and who knows it may even get you in the TSA watch list and worst case scenario cause some damage to your credentials of a law abiding citizen all because you typed in something that interest you out of mere curiosity
So what is really the cost of freedom? And where does the reach of freedom of information stop? as the CEO of Google Eric Schmidt said "if you have something you don't want anyone to know, then you shouldn't be doing it in the first place"so where is the freedom of privacy in that? what cost do we have to pay for privacy now that we live in the digital and information age? Maybe the 3rd Party Doctrine needs to be revisited and maybe then the cost of freedom will be balanced with the freedom of information.
How hard is it now to express ourselves and be heard when we are surrounded by digital noise that seems to get our attention but not pay us back the same when at every turn we are bombarded by Adds, Spam, Junk mail, Blogs and all sorts of digital clutter betting for our time keeping us glued to our screens like duct taped prisoners in our own homes. Reason for this may be the very reason we all want to be heard , as companies like Google for example are making it easy for everyone to become "publishers". They are doing this by branching out into not just being a search engine company but a mobile device supporter with apps that make uploading anything from YouTube videos to post on Facebook and twitter and making it harder for whatever form of expression to be heard or seen with all the clutter circulating out there now with every tom dick and Jane uploading and posting any and everything to his or her whim and fancy. As one trusted site stated there is over 20 hours of video uploaded every minute on YouTube! As the main source of accessing the internet is shifting from the PC to the Mobile phone as Mobile phones according to one Google Representative; Mobile devices are now what is called extra sensory computing as they now have eyes, ears and skin and are increasingly augmenting our own senses. So what is going to happen to Self expression when everyone is Expressing themselves and no one is listening? What is the next step that one has to take to be heard in the Digital World that is..
