But AOL is caught in a pincer movement: It must roll out broadband access rapidly (only 550, 000 Time Warner homes now have it) while staving off price erosion in its core narrowband business.

FORBES: Free For All

More alarming is the erosion of Sony's core business.

FORBES: Godzilla Needs Batteries

"Americans still cite privacy as one of the core values they cherish, but what's happening is this slow, insidious erosion of it, " said Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University.

WSJ: Bombing probe highlights expansion of surveillance