[Originally sent to politech at politechbot.com. --DBM] --- [I believe Americans care a lot about privacy invasions _when they don't have a choice_ -- such as cops sniffing your house for illegal drugs with airborne drones or Thermovision 210s. But when Americans _get to choose_ whether to give up their privacy in exchange for something of value, they often do. Just look at Safeway discount cards (and, in DC, Fresh Fields discount cards). Obviously not all choices -- health insurance comes to mind -- are as clear. But I don't think Americans will pay a lot extra to protect their privacy. How many Internet consumer-privacy firms have succeeded? --Declan] *******