State and county governments will likely downplay the issue, arguing that many documents by statute are available for public reference in county offices, and that going the online route saves time and resources. Clearly, making images of these documents available online was done with the best of intentions, but the practice was horribly shortsighted. Now we have millions of document images posted online, and the proc-ess of expunging (typically called "redacting" in document-imaging circles) sensitive information such as Social Security numbers is a time-consuming, expensive process.

It's difficult not to feel some compassion for cash-strapped state and county governments that face a problem that's so immediate and so overwhelming in its scope. But denying or downplaying the severity of the threat is unfair to the millions of people whose privacy and security are potentially at stake. And equating the availability of documents online with their availability in a locked county courthouse is irresponsible.

"Uh-oh" is right. This is bad. And nothing short of immediate, resolute action to make it better is acceptable.

Don Tennant is editor in chief of Computerworld. Contact him at don_tennant@computerworld.com.