Caught in the database
The AP recently reported on how E-ZPass, the electronic toll collection system on the East Coast, is being used to catch cheating spouses. One divorce lawyer quoted by AP couldn't resist a play on the name:
"E-ZPass is an E-ZPass to go directly to divorce court, because it's an easy way to show you took the off-ramp to adultery," said Jacalyn Barnett, a New York divorce lawyer who has used E-ZPass records a few times.
The AP found that seven of the 12 E-ZPass participating states will release toll information in both criminal and civil cases.
It's hard to have much sympathy for these fast-lane philanderers (the wordplay is too easy), but their situation may be a preview of what's to come for the rest of us. Geographic tracking systems are popping up all over. Just recently, there was a story about people "tagging" spouses who have Alzheimer's. And how long is it until people start chipping or tagging their kids? They already do it to their dogs.
As Art pointed out recently on MSNBC.com, there are number a reasons why keeping our various lives (private, professional, etc) separate is a good idea. When geographic information is added to the mountain of details about us already filed away in databases, it's not too hard to see a day when your application for health insurance (or almost anything else) goes something like this: "After merging your data profile, we've noticed some hot spots around casual dining chains such as Applebees. Do you have a riblet problem that we need to address?"
-Greg Dahlmann
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