Seeing Prism Through the Commercial Digital Data Surveillance System/The price when Google, Facebook et al collects our info

The dramatic global expansion of pervasive data collection by Google, Facebook, Yahoo and the digital marketing industry has created a commercially oriented surveillance system.  But it's no surprise that such immediate access to our lives--including rich details gathered by tracking our mobile device use (including location) and communications with friends (social media), as well as reams of first and third party data about our finances, health, personal and professional interests make it fertile territory for government collection.   The rise of advanced data mining techniques enables both marketers and officials to access and analyze our online dossiers.  Marketers--led by the US companies--have now successfully automated the collection and sale of our digital profiles--which are regularly bought and sold to the highest bidder in milliseconds via ad exchanges throughout the world.
 
We should be concerned that the commercial data collection complex has "normalized" how data is collected and used from and about us.  Nearly every moment of our lives information is being collected--and this is growing every day.  While online marketers and advertisers frame this as harmless (disingenuously suggesting it's only about sending us the right ad or offer), in fact it's about condoning a surveillance system that has profound implications for a democratic society (and offers much worse in repressive regimes). Online marketing is also more than merely data collection--it's about using information from and about us to direct and influence our behaviors (which is why they call it online behavioral profiling).  We should also be concerned that digital marketers are purposefully socializing young people to freely give up their information without understanding the potential political and social consequences.
 
The debate on ensuring personal and collective freedom in the digital age is much needed.  We recognize it's a complex issue, especially regarding the need to protect the public from acts of terror.  But we shouldn't let our fear totally drive what our government does--it requires rational and transparent discussion.  However, we do need to address how online commercial data collection--increasingly fueled by our mobile, geo-location, social and Big Data driven insights--needs to be legally limited.  Google, Facebook and the others require no FISA order to track us.  They merely beckon us to enjoy their services--but fail to acknowledge and address the consequences of a commercially driven data state.