An Analysis of Cell Phone Technology, Security, and Individual Rights
In this technology driven era, I question what effect cell phones are having on our lives as American citizens? To investigate this, I read two articles. The first reading was “Mobile Phone Tracking Scrutinized” by Nikki Swartz originally published in the Information Management Journal for March/April 2006, and the second reading was “Reach out and Track Someone” by Terry J. Allen, originally published by In These Times on May 15, 2006. In her article, Swartz questions the legality of using a cell phone’s GPS system as a tracking device in situations when crimes are involved. She argues the potential violation of Fourth Amendment rights and describes loopholes our
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She is concerned about defining the line where obtaining the data becomes relevant and material to the ongoing investigation in comparison to just probable cause. In contrast, Allen’s passion is to protect citizen’s privacy. She is eager to blame capitalism of the telecom companies. Allen presents a good argument about a case when a young woman was murdered and the cell phone tracking record of the suspect’s activities on the night of the murder, led to his arrest, not an actual call. She also has difficulty with the Justice Department warrantless wiretapping because getting a search warrant can mean dangerous delays (p1). Her concern is that the government can track a cell phone anywhere, even if not during an actual call. Swartz and Allen both question how much information cell phone companies should store. Swartz seems to appear more accepting of its use where Allen fears the location information can be released easily, possible without regard to privacy. I find Allen’s view almost entirely negative. She is upset the average consumer is unaware the telecommunications companies unjustly share information with the government. When information is stored by email on a cell phone, more than just a person’s whereabouts can be traced. Allen doesn’t mention any cases where cell phone tracking data was used to prevent harm
5 Ways You Give The Government Control” written by Kenneth Coats shows how the devices we use daily slowly take over individuals lives. Coats states, “Today, most people in the United States carry a mobile phone that accompanies them wherever they go. We use them for everything...This essentially makes them the perfect tracking and bugging devices”. Although electronic devices are known to be safe, they allow outside people to figure out individuals personal life. Due to the need for devices such as cell phones, each individual has a high chance of being socially stalked once in their lifetime. Coats then states, “Not only do intelligence agencies gather information via mobile companies, but… your phone can be hacked using spyware. Even if your phone is turned off, it can be remotely accessed to recorded conversations and take photographs”. This issue causes a panic due to the wide spread of inappropriate pictures and private conversations in one's life. Even though technology is viewed as a privileged, it is also taking away people's lives without their
Originally, these devices were solely used for contacting family and friends or even business, but now they have turned into something much bigger. In the article “That’s No Phone. That’s My Tracker.”, Maass and Rajagopalan explain that our cell phones can track everything from what we buy to where we are at all times. Just like in 1984, we the government has complete knowledge of where we are and what we are doing because of the increasing use of technology in our society.
Nowadays, phones have been glued to our hands. But how many people would be attracted to their phones if they know they are being tracked? Over the recent years as technology began to grow phones has been a big success. People are making calls, sending text messages, accessing the Internet , and sharing personal data.It doesn't matter whether your phone is a smartphone or whether you use it to make calls; as long as your phone is turned on, it registers its location with cell phone networks several times a minute, and all U.S. cell phone companies hold on to that data, some of them for years.
A. Thesis: The Patriot Act is violating American’s right to privacy. Mainly, the right to hold a private phone conversation.
Technology has become more accessible to the point it has become easier for government to watch everyone's move. In this generation technology takes over everyone's daily life, where people wakes up and the first thing is look at is the phone. A phone there are many things on it, like text, pictures and videos. Phones can do many things, but there is a possibility where the government can tap into a phone and look through it. The government can watch everyone’s: text, history, private info, and pictures. Government has no right to looking through people’s personal info because it violates Fourth amendment, Blackmail, and Creates fear.
Several court cases, some dating back to the early 2000s, have been held over the tracking and/or seizure of cell phones by police authority. This has stirred up massive controversy due to the courts inconsistent rulings that seem to vary by state. This can be troublesome in many instances where a similar trial in two different states can have two different rulings, meaning there is no precedent rule or written mandate for such occasion. While cell phone technology in particular is becoming more and more of a utility for not just our personal but our public lives as well, the people are beginning to fight for their privacy through the use of their digital
Technology, generally, cell phones are a significant part of our generation; therefore, they must be dealt with in a practical manner. Following the ruling of 2014, police began treating cell phones and electronic storage devices differently than traditional physically possessed items (Kerr, 2014). Kerr (2014) stated, “This is a new digital world that we are talking about, we need to come up with new rules that provide the traditional balance of the fourth amendment for the new environment of computers.” Kerr is exactly right; technology is evolving therefore, we as Americans need to evolve with it in all
“That’s No Phone. That’s My Tracker,” an article in The New York Times, by Peter Maass and Megha Rajagopalan, focuses on surveillance technology that we always carry with us at all times, our cell phones. Even with all these cameras and other data gathering technologies there are still many laws that can prevent our government from taking away our rights. Some of the factors that are in place state that the police can not access the footage without an active crime. That to me is good because then they can not just be watching at all
Government surveillance in the past was not a big threat due to the limitations on technology; however, in the current day, it has become an immense power for the government. Taylor, author of a book on Electronic Surveillance supports, "A generation ago, when records were tucked away on paper in manila folders, there was some assurance that such information wouldn 't be spread everywhere. Now, however, our life stories are available at the push of a button" (Taylor 111). With more and more Americans logging into social media cites and using text-messaging devices, the more providers of metadata the government has. In her journal “The Virtuous Spy: Privacy as an Ethical Limit”, Anita L. Allen, an expert on privacy law, writes, “Contemporary technologies of data collection make secret, privacy invading surveillance easy and nearly irresistible. For every technology of confidential personal communication…there are one or more counter-technologies of eavesdropping” (Allen 1). Being in the middle of the Digital Age, we have to be much more careful of the kinds of information we put in our digital devices.
In the article, You (and Your Cellphone) on Candid Camera by The New York Times Editorial Board, they raise the issue of customers being tracked by cell phone without their knowledge while they are shopping. The Editorial Board believes, as I do, that stores should not track people on their cellular devices without prior consent. They claim that apparently traditional retailers are tracking their customers on their cellular devices and on security cameras with little or no information given regarding these activities. This is being done not for consumers’ safety or the prevention of a crime, as with regular security tracking, but just so that companies can target their consumers with personalized advertisements. I, for one already cannot stand too many advertisement texts and e-mails when I knowingly sign up for them, I am outraged that this is allowed to go on without most people’s knowledge.
As a defense attorney, I would quickly conclude that regardless of the plain view doctrine, the officer had no legal right to investigate the phone further without the appropriate acquisition of a search warrant. In this particular case, there was no reason even to respond to the phone, regardless if it was beeping. At nine o-clock A.M., there was no investigation, reasonable suspicion, or probable cause to search, examine, or investigate any property within the residence. By examining the cell-phone's messages, the officer obviously infringed on the defendant's Fourth Amendment rights to unlawful search and seizure. As Sonny did not pass away until roughly two o-clock in the afternoon, there was not a death investigation until
In the late nineteen-nineties, “Benefon Esc!” came out. It was the first instance of a Global Positioning System being intergrated into a phone. The Global Positioning System also know as the GPS system assisted people who used or had a phone by keeping them from getting lost. People may argue that the phone should have never been made because it can leave a person accessible to stalkers by allowing people you do not know to call or text you, but that is why there are certain numbers you can press on the phone to dial the police if there is any trouble. Moreover, phones have made it easier to track down criminals. They keep track of drug dealers and other criminals by using location of cell phone tower to which their phone is connected
With 87 percent of American adults owning a cell phone (Jerpi, 2013), it becomes obvious that cell phones have become a staple device in today’s society. Although cell phones offer convenience, they arguably come with negative affects. Cell Phones have become one of the fastest emerging technologies (Campbell, 2006). With 87 percent of American adults and teenagers owning a cell phone (Jerpi, 2013), it becomes obvious that cell phones have become a staple device in today’s society. Since the release of the first cell phone, they have immensely evolved and some would say, have become an essential to everyday life. Although cell phones offer convenience, they arguably come with negative and impactful effects on our social
What does it feel like using a mobile device everyday of your life knowing that there is someone on the other side of the screen monitoring your actions? NSA (National Security Agency) surveillance is a controversial topic in the United States today. Some may say that government surveillance is used for our safety, but others argue that it violates our rights. Wiretapping has been an issue with the NSA, where conversations through phones or other source of electronic communication can secretly be monitored. According to John Gibson’s article from Fox News, “NSA Wiretapping Program Not Strictly Legal but Strictly Necessary,” he states how without wiretapping, terrorist activities can and will become a threat because terrorist will be able to
The further our technology is enhancing, the less privacy there is for a civilian. Privacy is having the ability to be free from being observed. Individuals are entitled to have the right to privacy. It makes it very difficult to fulfill this while the government is constantly watching over civilians. There are a variety of ways in which we are being observed- from surveillance cameras to phone records, and more. The government obtains too much power in accessing our private delegations