This is a very American centric view of data where privacy is not written into law. In the EU, the data protection act prevents much of this: http://www.ico.go

This is a very American centric view of data where privacy is not written into law. In the EU, the data protection act prevents much of this: http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/the_guide/the_principles.aspx http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/data_protection/the_... Of course, in our modern world of cloud computing even in the EU people place their data willingly beyond the reach of EU law. However, even cloud companies are sometimes inside its scope because of where their offices exist: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/21/irish_data_protection_commissioner_facebook_review_following_2011_audit/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/21/irish_data_protectio...