It is understandable that people will grab at any solution to a complex problem, but sometimes we create unintended results in our race for quick fixes.

Case in point is the current move to limit personal freedoms, particularly on the Internet. Talk of Carnivore and Echelon — once considered urban legends — is now common and often positive. New legislation looks at enhancing the amount of information officials can collect without warrants and talk of national “identity” cards is being raised in the US and Great Britain.

Add to this biometric surveillance and you have the makings of a very dangerous loss of freedom of movement — online and off.