For centuries, people have been obsessed with their privacy. It's a human interest to not want everything made public. Surveillance these days is everywhere. From CCTV cameras, to mobile phones (GPS tracking), to bank cards; the authorities have an accurate idea of your approximate location. In fact, it's mainly recent advancements in technology that's made the 'Big Brother' attitude possible.

Since the dawn of the World Wide Web, privacy is rapidly becoming impossible. The majority of content on the internet is permanent, and rarely temporary. Digital content can spread rapidly within short periods of time. For instance, if you upload a home video to YouTube, you must be prepared for it to spread all over the internet; take Star Wars Kid as a prime example.

Social networking websites such as Facebook also have issues with privacy. Some status updates are very personal, previously being something only your diary would know; but now digitised for all your friends to read. Ever been tagged in a photo you don't like? Most people have, so you just remove your tag don't you? The problem is the photo is only removed from your profile, not your friends', and therefore remains on the internet for people to happily view. Issues that would never of existed a decade ago are now an everyday occurrence. Some people are too personal with their status updates, consequently losing their jobs or risking their safety. Unsurprisingly, there is a master password for Facebook accounts, for any authority to browse if you are under suspicion.

Every Google search you make is recorded for two years. What you search for is often personal, and authorities can easily establish what kind of person you are. Google is regarded as the king of the internet, with most people using it to find and browse every topic and subsequent website in the world.

Email can also be easily read by authorities. Some messages are often very private and confidential, that only you and your intended recipient should know about. However, you simply have no choice, with messages read in the interest of public safety.

Mann, Nolan & Wellman (Sousveillance - Published 2002)

In the new digital age, you have to accept that authorities know scary amounts of information about you. The only invention that retains some of your privacy is the door, invented during Egyptian times. Could we soon be part of a super database, or are we already on one?