Intelligent software agents can serve commercial purposes as well as personal ones. When they do, these agents can lead to a number of privacy issues. For example:

• Real Media embedded within its streaming media player an agent that reports the names of all files played. This enables Real Media to gather statistics on view interests. The agent was only disabled after many people protested the invasion of personal privacy.
• Automated update agents have become a regular feature of commercial software products. While these agents simplify the process of updating software, they also report software piracy by transmitting serial numbers back to the manufacturers.
• The proposed UCITA legislation grants vendors the right to embed code into their software products that permit the vendor to disable the software if the customer violates the terms of licensing agreement.

Will the increased use of agents like these lead to public resistance. Already, personal firewalls block the unauthorized information reporting by vendors' software agents. Similarly, the newest editions of Netscape and Internet Explorer include user settings to block the use of cookies -- a popular tool used sites to gather information on browsing habits.

Here's a humerous view of a runaway agent.