We have to face it...we live in the age of information. Between 24/7, round-the-clock news coverage and Internet accessibility, we are constantly bombarded with images and info. How much is too much?
I recently read about the City of Huntington Beach proposing to post names and mug shots of individuals arrested for DUI on Facebook in an effort to curb the city's growing alcohol problem (the city is California's #1 source of alcohol-related incidents, with 1687 people arrested for DUI in 2009 and 195 either injured or killed due to alcohol-related incidents). Of course, privacy groups think this is an invasion of an individual's right to privacy, especially since these individuals have only been arrested and not convicted of a crime yet.
Many employers are turning to places like Facebook and Twitter to see what is posted by their current employees as well as prospective ones. Having something like this posted could seriously harm an individual financially as well as socially. But, if it keeps people from drinking, driving and hurting/killing someone, it could be a good thing. I'm honestly torn on the issue.
Do you feel this is an invasion of privacy, a possible throwback to the public floggings that happened in Pilgrim times? Or could this serve as a more tangible deterrent for anyone looking at tying one on and then getting behind the wheel? I'm interested in what side of the argument you fall on. Please let me know how much you think is too much.
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