While Kids May Or May Not Require Boundaries, Governments Certainly Do

BusinessPolicyWhile Kids May Or May Not Require Boundaries, Governments Certainly DoByJohn Tamny,Contributor.Follow AuthorMay 17, 2026, 02:00pm EDT(Original Caption) Built for the Office of Strategic Services, this tiny "M.B." Camera- no larger than its namesake, a matchbox- could be easily hidden in a man's hand and used to take a picture under the cloak of such a simple gesture as lighting a cigarette or reading. Eastman Kodak discloses it designed and built 1,000 of these cameras for use by OSS Agents and underground forces during World War II.Bettmann ArchiveIntently studying one’s customers is as old as business. Consumers would be miserable without keen business interest in who they are. If they’re skeptical, they need only go shopping in Havana or Pyongyang. In businesses staffed by individuals who lack any incentive to know and anticipate customer needs, the shelves are bare. Worse, what’s on the shelves has little to do with what customers desire. In short, customers are made better off when businesses “spy” on them. The intent isn’t nefarious, rather it’s about enhancing the customer’s experience all the while making it likely that what the customer desires will be in stock when he or she needs it. Importantly, the ability of businesses to anticipate and lead customer needs grows by the day. The latter is made evident by the valuations investors place on technology companies relative to traditional media of the print variety. With the latter, advertising was an educated guess, but not much more. Not so with modern technology. The internet and usage of same makes it possible for businesses to know precisely what interests each user, what turns that user off, and everything in between. The result is a greatly enhanced customer experience tailored to individuals that improves by the day. Call time spent scrolling and shopping on the internet the opposite of a shopping day in Havana or Pyongyang. Unfortunately, the ongoing and laudatory efforts...