Privacy doesn't exist. Don't get me wrong: the right to privacy (fourth amendment) exists, but it's a facade. While privacy is a concern for US citizens, they really only mean that they want privacy from the US government. Everything that you do in the digital world is tracked and catalogued by corporations, US or foreign, thereby creating a digital profile of you.

You see, when it comes to privacy we have this strange double standard - it's ok for some and not ok for others. And privacy is one of those things that you either have it, or you don't, like being pregnant - you're never just a little bit pregnant; you either are or you're not. It's pretty black and white. So we say we want privacy, but only from our own government. We're not restrictive against other governments actively spying on us. Hell, we're not restrictive on companies blatantly spying on us and profiting from it!

Every app on every phone or tablet tracks information about the user, and that information is sold to whoever wants to buy it. It's capitalism. Someone creates something of worth (in this case, a user profile) and another someone pays for it. The seller doesn't have any responsibility for the way the buyer intends to use a good. It's not the car company's fault if you drive too fast.

How those companies use your profile is no longer up to you and isn't regulated. Your clicks, shares, screen time, downloads, total engagement on your devices define your digital profile, which is sold to whoever is willing to pay for it - no strings attached.

And to further complicate the issue about privacy, it's not just the companies that create the apps who are tracking your every move. The telecom and internet providers can see all your internet traffic. They, too, create a profile of you and sell you off.

Credit card companies track and sell data about your every purchase.. the list goes on. And, what's worse is that we sit back and accept it!

Meanwhile, the devices themselves, WiFi routers, sensors, data centers, etc. are mostly made overseas and are known to intentionally transmit this data (personal information), creating yet another digital profile of you. In the worst of cases, your digital profile is sent to nations with malicious intent.

And ... drum roll please ... if the companies have your data and your digital profile, nothing is private.  You might as well take the privacy screen off your phone, open your blinds, and give everyone a good look under the hood. You are completely exposed. To recap: it's not ok for US government officials to search your car without permission, but somehow it is perfectly acceptable, and often even preferred, for companies to watch your every move. And then turn it around for a profit. We should have the same expectation of privacy from companies as we do from our own government.

In effect, we’re giving everything away for nothing, then insisting on privacy where it matters least. We’ve compromised our own digital dignity. Will we ever get it back?

Dr. Jennifer Buss is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. CEO Insight is a forum where she shares her thoughts on science, technology, and other national issues.