FEBRUARY 2, 2007

Today I went to the Main Branch of the New York Public Library, at 42nd St. and 5th Ave to play with Eavesdrop. It was a totally amazing experience. A lot of people's data was encrypted, but I was able to tell that people were looking at gmail and yahoo mail, as well as chase online banking. I read all of someone's exam for a marketing course and determined that another person was researching law schools and bar admission rates. What was most striking about the experience, though, was how I felt afterward. When I got up to put on my coat and leave, I looked around at all the unsuspecting laptop users happily surfing and typing away, completely oblivious to the fact that I had been observing their online activity (or at least part of it) for the better part of two hours. It felt creepy and weird, like I was some kind of peeping tom. The thrill of transgression that I had felt while I was actually using the program was replaced by a sense of guilt -- and even mild nausea.