Most people we talk to think they understand that "our governments" are the greatest threat to our privacy and the way the data about our lives can effect our futures. 

Not necessarily. If you think governments are a threat to your privacy, add the avarice of our commercial economy corporations to the mix and be rightly afraid.

Screen shots from following Washington Post article.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/01/07/ftc-warns-companies-that-big-data-comes-with-the-potential-for-big-problems/