Comment by polynomial

Exactly. If you didn't see the death of privacy as early as the 80s you either weren't paying attention, or weren't born yet.

What's going on here is a redefining of personal data as "private but without privacy." While the distinction itself is somewhat subtle, the ways this redefining is being carried out are anything but.

In Eric's case, he has never exactly been known for his subtlety of thought, has he…?