1. The Internet is a worldwide network that connects smaller groups of linked computers. It allows users to communicate with computers on other groups. The computers and networks forming the Internet are owned by governmental institutions, corporations, educational organizations or by private owners. For a technical description of the Internet see Reno v. ACLU, 117 S;Ct,1997
2. 84% of Americans feared that files containing credit information, employment data, phone calls, buying habits, and travel could easily be compiled. 60 % of those surveyed in West Germany feared that computers have given the government too many opportunities of control. Because of computers spreading like wildfire since, these numbers today are probably higher. Even computer security experts tend to underestimate the amount of information easily available. See Kelley, An Expert in Computer Security Finds His Life Is a Wide-Open Book;According to 1983 polls reported in Simitis, Reviewing Privacy in an Information Society, 135 U. Pa. L. Rev. 707,1999
3. See also infra note 123. The computerization of many administrative branches allows the collection and combination of immense amounts of information about citizens. See Garcia;A disturbing account about how easily and deeply researchers can dig in personal data is given in Living in the global goldfish bowl, THE ECONOMIST,1991