The Fourth Amendment protects people’s privacy. This constitutional protection is intended to shield people’s private lives against government intrusion.

Generally, the government cannot enter someone’s home unless a judge issues a warrant. However, in the digital age this shield is no longer holding up. As people share their personal data for access to news, social media and other content, the government can simply purchase the data it wants; no warrant needed.

This erosion of privacy is not happening in the shadows; it is a core characteristic of the digital economy. We, as consumers, have grown accustomed to the relentless data collection that fuels the Internet. We “consent” to having our clicks, locations, messages and preferences tracked, packaged, and sold over and over again. The primary actors in this data marketplace are private companies, driven by large profits from targeted advertising. The problem is that their most eager customer is increasingly the U.S. government.

The legal distinction between government surveillance and corporate data collection has collapsed into a de facto public-private surveillance partnership. Why go through all the hassle of getting a warrant when you can just buy........

© The Hill