zlacker

Who cares about a "real name"? A "real name" doesn't tell you anything about a person. Or at least nearly nothing. It's an arbitrary label. If I know how much money you spend on what, which other people you communicate with, how often, and at which times, I know way more about you than if I knew just your name. And I don't need to know your name to recognize you by your cookies. Or your email address. Or your IP address.

If you regularly send emails back and forth with a specific doctor, I have a pretty good idea which condition you have. If you regularly call a specific company at specific times, I have a pretty good idea that you work there. ...

Also, private surveillance is not about "finding you", but about influencing groups of people. For business purposes. Or maybe for political purposes. If I know that you are likely to be receptive to a specific kind of emotional message, I don't care what your birth certificate says, I care about how to get that message onto your screen in front of your eyes.

And finally, as other have mentioned: Yes, it is a matter of pressing a button. That is the essence of what Snowden revealed, if you will.