Local Author's 'Take the Fourth' Takes on the Right to Privacy

In today’s digital age, most of us are aware by now that every time we visit the Internet we are sharing information. However, to what extent and how much may shock you.

Local author Jeffrey Walton, of Schuylkill Township, takes this invasion of privacy a step further in his new book, Take the Fourth.

“I learned over the years how much information is really out there for the taking,” said Walton, who when not writing works as a development manager for one the top technology providers for the financial industry. “The amount of mundane information that can turn into statistics is pretty amazing."

Walton explores this topic in his first novel, named in reference to the Fourth Amendment, which entitles us to our basic right to privacy. Walton takes his lead character on a fictional trip of “what if”—what if information sharing got so out of control that every move we make was trackable and accounted for by those in charge? 

According to Walton, even though people use the Internet freely, they really aren’t fully aware of the consequences.

“We are losing the Fourth Amendment because our information is shared so freely between financial institutions, web and government,” he said.

With laws such as the Patriot Act and the Electronic Communications Act, individuals are denied the right to privacy if the U.S. government has reason to believe you might be threat to the country’s safety. This allows the government the right to access e-mail accounts, phone records and even engage in wiretapping.

“They can track you anywhere you want. They know everything about you through the digital world,” said Walton.

According to Walton’s research, many businesses, both online and local, also monitor consumer activity and make money by selling this database to insurance companies.

Ever wonder why the ads on your search engine seem to display your favorite items from online stores or how your Smartphone suddenly know you need to lose a few pounds?

Walton says that your information is constantly being collected and sold to insurance agencies, marketing companies and financial institutions so they know how to sell their services to you, the consumer.

Walton cites bonuscards, like those offered at local grocery stores such as Giant, as an example.

“It’s easy for an insurance company to view your grocery tab and make assumptions about your purchases and you as a person," he said.

As a web developer and as someone who with firsthand experience dealing with consumer information, Walton began thinking about this practice in more detail.

“As a programmer, if I develop applications, I can find out any information about you, anything you have, your private information,” said Walton. “Information is passed back and forth relating to you as an individual, and with how much info is out there we are losing rights slowly and surely."

It was this idea that inspired Walton to begin writing—that combined with the day he realized he couldn’t find anything at the bookstore he wanted to read. So Walton took his love of fiction and his knowledge of the financial world, technology and information sharing and decided to try writing himself.

“I used to read a lot and there was nothing really interesting to me, so I thought I would try writing. I would write one chapter and then read it to my wife and she would tell me it was good, so I would write another one, and that’s how the book came to be,” said Walton.

Walton finished the book in November 2010 after three years, and self-published in February 2011. Since the book’s April launch, Walton has received quite a bit of local support for his first novel.

His first signing was at the Columbia Bar and Grille, where he has been a bartender for more than 30 years.

“I’ve been there behind the bar since 1983 and that’s where my first signing was,” said Walton, who added that they went above and beyond by displaying his book in the bar area.

April Zappaterrini, the wife of a good friend, worked with Walton to design the book cover, a human eye reflecting and image of the White House, and friends helped him edit the book before he self-published.

Walton also added that his local roots influenced certain aspects of his book. His lead character, Jorja Carson, as well as many other characters in the book, are named after streets of his hometown of Mont Clare.

Walton is currently working on a sequel that echoes the plot of "Take the Fourth."

“It’s a faster paced book. The first book laid the foundation, and this one deals more with social media,” he said.

"Take the Fourth" is available through Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and Kindle, with a reprinting scheduled for August 2011.