It seems that Sandy Berger, Bill Clinton's national security adviser, was recently forced to quit his job as John Kerry’s adviser. He is now under federal investigation for taking notes and classified documents from the National Archives.

Berger was recently at the National Archives reading through highly classified terrorism documents related to the 9-11 commission. It has been reported that Berger asked to be left alone several times during his reading sessions to make personal phone calls on his cell phone. It occurred to many people that if Berger’s cell phone was equipped with a camera he could have used it to take pictures of classified information. After this announcement, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people started searching the Internet using the search terms such as, “Sandy Berger, camera cell phone”. The search results led them onto an article that I had written about the popularity of cell phones with cameras. In the article I wrote about the problems associated with these phones, including how easy these devices make it to steal information. Before long, a link to my article was posted on GoGov.com. My picture was posted right under the other Sandy Berger’s picture. People on several message boards picked up on my article and suddenly began discussing both Sandy Berger’s and camera phones. I loved the comment made by a visitor on the FreeRepublic.com message boards: “ I thought this was going to be blockbuster until I discovered that this Sandy Berger is a chick.”

The Sandy Berger situation brought to my attention the fact that today’s common tech devices today can be used in a way that until recently was available only to the FBI, KGB, CIA, and Maxwell Smart. Technology has given the every-day person the ability to easily spy on people and steal information.

My article that is posted on the Compu-KISS Web site stated “As with most new technologies, there is also a downside to camera cell phones. Some critics are calling them a privacy menace as they are being used in bathrooms, locker rooms, and gyms. Art museums, and others, who ban photography are having trouble controlling the use of camera phones. Bookstores are struggling to crack down on the digital shoplifting that occurs when patrons photograph pages of books and magazines without paying for them. The speedy transmission of telephone photos enables confidential information to be stolen and immediately transmitted to an outside source.”

Yes, we are living in a world where every person has access to inexpensive technology that can be used for bad as well as good. Oh, and there is one more amazing thing about this story, it shows how the vastness and power of the Internet could bring, if only for a short time, the worlds of the two vastly different Sandy Berger’s together.

By the way, he’s Samuel and I am Sandra. Also, if you happen upon the headline that says, “Sandy Berger to pose for Playboy – Proof that he has nothing to hide” let me assure you that they are referring to the other Sandy Berger.