I think many of us are victims of the media's 'spin' that they put on such stories.
Without the full story, the headline takes priority in our minds. Even the 'complete' text of a report often overlooks or leaves out vital information (or is based on wholly ingenuous methods or data).
I read many of the comments for that Slashdot article and found many viewpoints- both informed and otherwise.
I posted the link to show that the concept of the 'nanny state' is very apropos and cause for much distress and misinformation (and distress about misinformation).

It doesn't take any imagination to see that populations are more controlled in today's world than ever before. The trends (the need to be controlled and the abuse of controlling power) are disturbing, to say the least.