Does it matter that the government knows I went to a Megadeth concert last year?
Maybe not. But then again, what if you're applying for a suit-and-tie job, and the guy tells you your musical tastes don't fit in ? Right now, we still consider such a web-search and comment as invasive. But I don't know, I feel that if we don't defend our privacy tooth and claw, those kind of things will be seen as a matter of course - why not even check on your latest purchases ? Your medical records ?
Here as everywhere else, there was a big hubhub about fighting internet piracy. Okay, not contesting. But they're offering that you should voluntarily install on your computer a form of spyware, under the pretext to avoid 'false positive' when you get nicked for piracy. Argument ? "The innocent have nothing to hide". :blink: With that kind of argument, you can defend the idea to put a camera in your room and car, to deter from crime.
Just saying, the concept of private life becomes blurry in people's mode of life (facebook), in the media, and in even the declaration of politicians. Now it's not so much a problem with what governements could do with it - you've got a point when you speak of numbers, although provided the elections turn wrong, you might not be so keen to test your luck - as what it could mean at a lower level (other people encroaching, companies, insurances trying to find loopholes, etc).