CyberStorm: An Apocalyptic Thriller

by Matthew Mather

“You know what freedom really is?” demanded Rory. “Freedom is civil liberty, and the foundation of civil liberty is privacy. No privacy means no civil liberty means no freedom. You know why they don’t just fingerprint everyone?” “Seems like a good idea to me,” laughed Chuck. “Because once they have your fingerprints,” continued Rory, ignoring Chuck, “you instantly become a suspect in every crime. They’ll run your fingerprints against everything they find at a crime. You go from being a free citizen to being a criminal suspect.” “And fingerprints are just one way of identifying you,” added Damon. “Location, your face on a camera, things you buy—all your personal information creates a digital fingerprint.” Chuck wasn’t convinced. “But who really cares if the government has a bunch of information about me? What are they going to use it for?” “What are they going to use it for? That exactly the question. And if they have it, then anyone can steal it,” replied Rory.