Some of you may have heard talk that the NSA is building a super data center down in Utah, with the intention of spying on citizens across the States- and possibly even outside of the States.

Now, you all know how journalism can sometimes be – sensationalism’s the word, and stories like that have to be taken with a grain of salt, right? This data center wouldn’t really spell the death of online privacy, would it?

I decided to look into the issue, and do a bit of research into just what the NSA is building and why they’re being so secretive about it.

The findings are more than a little chilling.

Basically, a lot of what bloggers are saying about this place is true. The NSA is building a data center with supercomputers designed to store personal information, steal information from “potential adversaries,” and crack strong encryption (basically, one of the only things capable of keeping conversations over the ‘net truly private nowadays).

They’ve set up listening hubs across the country (a gross violation of the constitution, but hey- it’s for your own protection,so that’s okay), and they’ve kept things so secret that not even Congress fully understands just what the hell they’re doing.  What few explanations they’ve given have essentially been doubletalk, euphemisms alluding to the facility’s true purpose.

It looks, sounds, and feels like something out of Orwell’s 1984. And that is a very, very bad thing.

It’s understandable, perhaps, why they’re doing this – why they’re establishing a nationwide spy network, why they’re pouring billions of dollars into their supercenter – if you look at things from their perspective. Now, I hate to dredge up the past, but ever since 9/11, the country hasn’t quite been the same. People were scared- they’re still scared. They jump at ghosts. They see terrorists where none exist. It doesn’t justify what the NSA’s doing here, but at the very least, they very well could feel that this is the only way to protect folks online.

We’re getting a bit off track, of course. How does all of this affect you, ladies and gentlemen? What does this facility mean for your online privacy?

This may sound like something of a jaded remark, but..it likely wouldn’t change all that much. See, depending on how your browse, there’s always someone collecting information about you, be it your browsing habits for targeted advertising and search personalization, your personal details by Social Networks and email clients, or your financial details for online purchases. Basically, this just adds one more name to the list of people who are watching you on the ‘net. Again, it doesn’t make it right, but for most of you, you’ll just have one more set of eyes on your keyboard.

Of course, for those of you with a bit of technical know-how, this new data center might well mean you’ll be setting up your computer to chat and connect over a Dark Net, or to the string of private, encrypted internet providers that promise to pop up as people become more and more frustrated with the joke that is online privacy.

By now, some of you are likely outraged. What right does the NSA have to track you online? What justifies them keeping tabs on otherwise innocent citizens? How far do their permissions extend? Would they be able to arrest someone for jokingly making remarks that could be construed as terrorism?

You need to approach this one in the same way you approached SOPA. Contact Congress. Tell the government that they need to keep their dog on a shorter leash, else everyone in the country ends up with a few nasty bites.

As for the rest of you, well…best just watch what you say. Because the NSA will be watching.

Image Credits: Photobucket, Wired Magazine

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