E-tracking through your cell phone

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Imagine my shock

"But the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice have seized on the ability to locate a cellular customer and are using it to track Americans' whereabouts surreptitiously--even when there's no evidence of wrongdoing."

So much for the "you only have something to fear if you're doing something wrong" crowd, eh?

"One federal magistrate judge in Wisconsin on Jan. 17 ruled it was unlawful, but another nine days later in Louisiana decided that it was perfectly OK."

Ain't it funny how the federal government is perfectly OK with this ACTIVIST judge. This judge is arguing that the feds have the right to break the law..

"It's also unfortunate because it demonstrates that the FBI swore never to use a 1994 surveillance law to track cellular phones--but then, secretly, went ahead and did it, anyway."

A heads up for those that believe the federal government without question, like with 9/11, Iraq, Iran, civil liberties, etc..
Yes, federal officials can actually be capable of lying to you. Grow up and deal with it. Get your foggy heads out of Disneyland..

"The problem is that the Justice Department's current official position--a flip-flop from its previous official position--says police should be able to secretly monitor your whereabouts as long as they claim that tracking could possibly be "relevant" to some investigation."

A BLATANT violation of the 4th Amendment..
I don't give a crap that our forefathers could not have forseen cell phones and GPS. This is unreasonable searching..Period.

"Not only is that insufficiently privacy-protective, it doesn't track what the law actually says."

Ain't it hilarious that the very people that are supposed to enforce the law are the very group BREAKING it?!

"But given the Justice Department's logic, there's nothing stopping prosecutors from asking for more data next time."

Which is of course PRECISELY what is going ot happen. Soon "prosecutors" will say in court, "you should not expect reasonable privacy so long as your cell phone is on. Your phone accesses a public network, and thus is subject to scrutiny whenever we feel like poking around".

"Thanks to regulations from the Federal Communications Commission, wireless handsets must know their locations within a few hundred feet, regardless of whether their owner wants it."

And WHY would that be, other than for tracking purposes?

"Consider the implications. If you voluntarily transmit your exact GPS-derived location to a cellular provider--so you can get information returned about nearby restaurants or driving directions--the Justice Department apparently believes that your location should be available without a warrant."

This is EXACTLY why I have lost all faith in the internet and new technology. It will be expected that if we use these mediums that every aspect of our lives will be broadcast to whomever wants the info.
In the near future, you will not be able to use a phone or the internet without being completely tracked.

"But for now, there's nothing stopping prosecutors from shopping around and finding a sympathetic judge who will find some way to interpret the law in their favor next time."

Let's see how vigilant the Repubs are in punishing this obvious ACTIVIST "judging"..

Posted by: 5th Limb in the Kisser   Posted on: 02/13/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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