Benefits vs Privacy

Technology has been surrounding us ever since I can remember.

Since the advent of the Internet, things have been changing drastically.
More new compatible applications and products have beenc created to ride on the wave of Internet, which is described as the 4th Revolution. The world suddenly is no longer restricted by its geographical limitations, and shrunk into what Marshall McLuhan coined as "Global Village".

As a result, people around the world becomes technologically enabled. For instance, people can become reporters and post what they have seen online. Everyday lives was suddenly magnified several 100 times as it was circulated throughout the entire Global Village within seconds. We all know that there is this girl residing on a tiny island, did a DIY sex video and was circulated around the world. There was this certain girlfriend who nearly destroyed her boyfriend's male happiness with her physical abuse. Nitty Gritty details becomes the information that was circulated and make known to nearly all of us so much so that I feel it maybe one of the factors that contribute to Information Overload in this Information Age. Suddenly, the quality of the information dropped so drastically that gossips filters into our daily lives.

Of course, there are other things like Google world map which also featured Street view. It is an excellent tool in my opinion especially when one decides to go travelling. At least you have seen the place before and you most likely would not get lost. You know the road situations, whether is it a one way lane or 2-way street. The convenience is unmeasurable.

However, on the news today, someone discover that a nude woman walking around her house was caught on the Street view as the street scene was captured by Google. I was like, OMG. How unfortunate.

That set me thinking how come this was not filtered? Furthermore, even though it was very convenient and has a lot of benefits, does it outweighs our own privacy now that our lives are put online that everyone can see it? Are we going to do self-censorship and be very conscious of our actions and behaviours in our everyday lives for the fear that we may be caught on the camera or other devices and be posted online?
There will be a 3rd pair of eyes looking very carefully every movement we make. How does it impact on our lives? Doesnt it amount to surveillance?

Since everyone is subjective, some people may not be comfortable with some thing and they took the picture without permission and post online. What happened to the courtesy and the respect for privacy of others? For the sake of showing off or proving one's point, other's privacy is sacrificed. Is the sacrifice worth it?
These are the issues that we have to grapple with in our everyday lives as technology become a major part of our lives.