Friday, September 14, 2012

Real-Time Tracking: Let’s Draw the Line


As technology continues to advance, the issue of one’s privacy seems to resurface very often.  Cell phone tracking is the latest advancement that has caused controversy in the United States.  Cell phone carriers have the ability to track the location, data usage, text messages, etc. of their customers.  Some customers enjoy the location-tracking feature of cell phones because they can easily find their children or friends, nearby places, weather forecasts, or even directions. 
The question at stake now is should law enforcement officials be able to order cell phone companies to give up real-time tracking of data?  As with any other concern, there are pros and cons to this idea.  Of course, the obvious positive to releasing this information would be that police could use this information to catch criminals.  This evidence could be critical to an investigation because it could prove or disprove a person’s alibi.  Also, the data could help officers find missing people, suicide callers, and other people in emergency situations very quickly. 
The citizens of the United States would have a feeling of safety at all times with this technology being readily available for law enforcement officers.  However, this issue also has many cons at the same time that must be taken into consideration.  Privacy is obviously the biggest concern.  Yes, cell phone tracking can help federal officials find and arrest criminals, which, in the end, is for the greater good of society, but are they “abusing” their right to this information?
Have you ever had someone just stare at you for no reason at all?  If so, how did that make you feel?  That is in essence what some police officers do in certain areas of the country.  According to CNN, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stated that in agreement with their records certain agencies used this data in nonemergency situations.  Also, some agencies request information about all phones on a certain tower and not just a specific phone.  Essentially, innocent Americans are being tracked by these agencies when they may not be connected to a crime in any way.  Should American citizens feel like they are being watched 24/7?  Additionally, the ACLU and other organizations feel that these practices are against the 4th amendment, which addresses how searches should be conducted in the United States.  According to the New York Times, most law enforcement officials do not obtain search warrants when requesting and receiving this information. In addition, a question of morality should be examined when discussing this topic.  Is everyone inherently good? What if this information gets into the hands of the wrong person?  This can cause a problem as well, because with access to this information it could lead to stalking and other problems.
Varying opinions have been shared on the real-time tracking concern.  Some people feel that we, Americans, already share a great amount of information about ourselves and our activities through social media, such as Facebook and Twitter.  On the other hand, some people feel that it is still not acceptable for us to be tracked without our knowledge.  What is your opinion?
Want to read more about this topic?  Look and see what CNN and the New York Times have to say in the links below.