Globally Rational

Anybody who has seen futuristic movies such as Minority Report has wondered if - or, rather, when - we will actually start to see those personal identification systems. We always get ideas about a time when every person’s identity will be known by a global computer system, so that the authorities can know when you go to a place where you’re not supposed to be. Also, they can deliver personalized information when and where you need it; for instance, a computerized voice can guide you to your favorite stores every time you walk into a mall.

Of course, this would be a severe infringement on privacy. I don’t mind it personally (because I don’t have anything to hide), but plenty of people feel violated by this sort of idea. Luckily, we won’t have to worry about the issue in our lifetimes… or will we?

Well, I think we’re closer to that time than you think. And the idea came not from the Japanese or the Germans (surprisingly), but from the British.

The M6, the busiest highway in England, is now broadcasting a customized comedy program to your GPS. It will beam different jokes to your car based upon where you are on the 230-mile stretch. It sounds like a great idea with a lot of potential applications regarding traffic updates and local information. While this information is being broadcast from the local station to the GPS receiver, the station also has the ability to find out the ID of the receiver that it’s transmitting to. Is it inconceivable that we’re not far from the day when somebody takes advantage of that ability?

Five years ago when I first bought a mobile phone, AT&T offered a feature (on one of their premium plans) that could find your friends and tell you exactly where they are (assuming they’re also on the AT&T network). They quickly removed that feature and I can see why… but that means that they’re able to get that information from your cellphone. Here is how I expect events to progress:

1. A radio show is broadcast to GPS systems on the M6.
2. The broadcasters of that radio show get information about their listeners for marketing purposes.
3. A company offers personalized information where your GPS (which, by this time, is contained in your mobile phone) can hold customized preferences for what you want to see and listen to.
4. More companies start to compete with that first company that offers customized preferences.
5. After a series of mergers and buyouts, these companies end up forming one large database of customer information.
6. These services become a part of everyday life, just like the Internet and mobile phones.
7. Soon, I get a welcome message at every mall saying “Welcome Shan… the book you’ve been waiting for is now available at Border’s, in Wing C on your right. Also, EXPRESS will be starting their annual winter clearance in 2 weeks; don’t forget about it this year like you did last year!”
8. The federal government starts to use this information to keep tabs on what we’re doing, especially with Muslims like me (come to think of it, they may already be doing this).

I’m not saying that this will definitely happen… but is it really that outrageous?

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