>but I think overlooks the fact that much of this record keeping happened prior to the internet. Almost all public activity generates a paper trail, and before the internet, your phone company, bank, grocery store, even your VHS rentals and public library, were keeping records on you.

I think you would've had a very hard time tracking someone through these records.

As an NYer, tapping John Gotti was very traditional compared to the blanket tracking of US citizens that has been granted by FISA.

As for Schneier's link to the Atlantic's article, I think we're moving to a new era where we trust developers and not the popularity or the design of the app itself. I'm sure one will be tracked when you don't have to pay anything for it.