Privacy - Who Will Protect You?

The recent revelation of alleged provocative photographs of Antonella, the pretty young American Idol contestant, has raised more interesting discussions about privacy, the ease of wide distribution of video and cell phone photographs via the Internet, the loyalty of friends and how we must protect our privacy.

The debate and discussion will rise to a very high pitch over the course of the next few days and then fade into obscurity as newer issues refocus the attention of the public. While this issue is currently front and center a few observations are probably relevant.

Photographic details of bad behavior and poor judgment are now subjected to much broader dissemination, viewing and analysis than ever before so the message is clear - one may be more accountable for their actions than ever before! If video or photographic recording of one's activities is available, it will probably be widely distributed at an inopportune time. Certainly, Antonella had no idea that she might have had an opportunity to pursue fame when her activities were allegedly captured on film. One has to believe she was among friends and her antics were no doubt thought to be confined to a very small audience - wrong!

The result of these photographic revelations may lead to disastrous consequences or perhaps open additional opportunities for Antonella's fame. Time will tell. Politicians, celebrities and other public figures risk ridicule, public criticism, removal from office or positions of prominence or other penalties when their indiscretions are subjected to wide viewing and scrutiny. The problem is that one may never know when any video evidence of previous bad judgment might be released. It could happen a few moments after the occurrence or many years later.