Here's the problem as I see it. I work in the medical field and have been involved computers since the VIC-20 days (what's a vic-20?). I love the internet as it is today because it is free and you can maintain a reasonable aount of privacy expecially on usenet. That said, it is quickly becoming the means to track and trace everything everyone does in real time. In the medical field, the gov is pushing for "paperless" medical files. While this is useful for the medical field and for the patient in that it provides instant history, adverse medical reactions, etc, there is only one step remaining after implementing MANDATORY compliance with "paperless" systems. Big brother needs only pass a bill mandating that all medical office systems interface with goverment links. In this way, the gov does not need to maintain files on you but merely needs to mandate that your Dr. link to thier computers so they have access to every record. Now the gov needs only "mandate" all business systems link to their computers and now every record on you is available to the snoops.
Why would you care?? Once the above is in place, every purchase, every prescription, every movie you watch will be available to big brother. Whatever evil big bro wants to do to you he now can. Although the sheer amount of info would be overwhelming for current computing systems to handle, future systems will be able to handle them. Even with todays systems, filtering software could sniff out all info on "persons of interest" (Like Ian) and find out daily movements, phone calls, purchases, and even reservations on transportation carriers. You couldn't get away. It would be even more intrusive than "1984" by Orwell. If you did something the gov didn't like, they could locate you with your cell phone signal or by your latest credit card purchase. They would be able to log on the the "superstore" security system and find you looking at the toothpaste on isle 12. Punch a button, and the store security personal will be notified to hold you until your local black boot can show up.
Yeah, Google will keep the records of all your searches forever and when the gov passes a law stating that all libertarians are enemy's off the state and to round up all %1 of the pop who have claimed affilliation, Google's files will be accessed instantly, and Ian will be located and arrested for all the Google searches he did with libertarianism as the subject. Irrefuteable evidence to be used against him in a court of law (if one even exists at that time...)