by Charles J. Sykes

About the author: Charles J. Sykes is a journalist and the author of The End of Privacy, from which the following viewpoint is excerpted.

“In a few hours, sitting at my computer,” writes Carole A. Lane, “beginning with no more than your name and address, I can find what you do for a living, the names and ages of your spouse and children, what kind of car you drive, the value of your house, and how much you pay in taxes on it. From what I learn about your job, your house, and the demographics of your neighborhood, I can make a good guess at your income. I can uncover that forgotten drug bust in college. . . .” If anything, Ms. Lane is being modest.

For a small fee, she...