News Release

August 4, 2004

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Government, not private sector, is the real threat to people's privacy
New Cato study details threats to America's privacy rights

WASHINGTON--Although traditionally government has been considered the protector of citizens' privacy, the truth is that government is more of a threat to privacy than the private sector, a new Cato Institute study argues.

In "Understanding Privacy -- and the Real Threats to It," released today by the Cato Institute, Jim Harper, Cato's director of information policy studies and editor of Privacilla.org, draws a distinction between government and private sector dangers to individual privacy. He also explains why Americans should be primarily concerned with government and privacy-reducing legislation, such as the USA PATRIOT Act.

Harper categorizes three principal risks from the government: surveillance, collection and the sharing personal information, and laws and regulations that erode privacy. He argues that "nearly every law has consequences for privacy, and many laws are very harmful to privacy indeed." When laws and regulations are proposed, the invasion of individual privacy should be taken into account.

"Thoughtful policymakers in the future will recognize the detrimental effects many programs have on consumers' privacy and respond with proposals that reduce the role of government in individuals' lives," writes Harper. "Privacy thrives when aware and empowered citizens are able to exercise control of information about themselves."

Policy Analysis no. 520