The myth of personal privacy 

In 2024, asking if we should have a right to personal privacy is the wrong question; we crossed that bridge with the arrival of the internet decades ago. Since then, increasing layers of technology in our daily lives have collectively invaded our personal space. Yet each of us feels entitled to privacy, fueling a myth that permeates our world today.  Consider the use of facial recognition technology.  The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) uses facial recognition as a means of authenticating traveler identity. To fly commercially in the United States (and the world, for that matter) requires each person to prove that they are who they claim to be. Biometrics like facial recognition are more reliable than other forms of identity, like driver licenses, and the technology is continuing to improve, enhancing its robustness across a growing swath of people. It is also among the least expensive means to protect the air system from bad actors with nefarious intent.  However, concerns about privacy intrusion are pervasive.   As an example, a group of senators has proposed a bill, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act, to stop the TSA from using credential authentication tools. “The TSA program is a precursor to a full-blown national surveillance state,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). “Nothing could be more damaging to our national values of privacy and freedom.”  Credential authentication is a critical layer of airport security. Even showing one’s driver’s license or any other physical form of identification is an invasion of privacy, though it is rarely viewed as…The myth of personal privacy