Governments, corporations, and various private entities have never provided any form of compensation to individuals for the illegal appropriation and use of their personal digital information. This oversight is particularly troubling given that these entities generate significant revenue from the unauthorized collection and exploitation of data belonging to American citizens, yet they fail to disclose the precise amounts of revenue derived from such practices.
In light of this, it is imperative for Congress to craft comprehensive legislation aimed at capturing all revenue generated by any government, corporation, or private entity from the collection, sale, and distribution of individual personal digital information—especially when such activities occur without the informed consent or knowledge of the individuals involved. This legislative initiative would necessitate a thorough audit of the revenue trails linked to the sale of personal digital data, complemented by forensic accounting to uncover the profits accrued from these transactions by entities engaged in the commercial exploitation of personal digital information.
In addition to financial audits, it is crucial to identify and catalog every entity that participates in the sale and distribution of personal data for profit. This identification is fundamental for any credible assessment of liability, as it enables a clear understanding of which parties are responsible for the unauthorized use of personal information and aids in the determination of appropriate damages for affected individuals.
In a capitalist society, the protection of our personal digital information is enshrined in the Fourth Amendment. Just as we maintain control over our physical “papers,” we should equally have dominion over our digital data. However, governments, corporations, and other entities are profiting from the illegal appropriation of our private property—namely, our personal digital information—while systematically excluding us from any share of these profits. They exploit our data without our consent or knowledge, leading to substantial, compounded profits for themselves and nothing for us. This situation amounts to large-scale theft and raises significant ethical concerns about privacy and ownership.
Such practices bear striking similarities to the exploitation seen in totalitarian regimes, where citizens are used as commodities for profit without their consent. In a properly functioning capitalist system, it is the right of “we the people” to control our personal digital information in the same manner as we control our physical property. This includes the inalienable right to choose whether to sell our digital information for profit or to keep it private.
Therefore, it is crucial for Congress to classify the unauthorized capture and sale of personal digital information without informed consent as a serious crime. Both Congress and the public hold the power to put an end to the blatant exploitation of our private digital property by profit-driven entities. Prompt and effective legislation must be enacted immediately to safeguard our rights and ensure that our personal information is treated as the valuable asset it truly is.