Tech Musing #3
Carlos Morfin
4/19/2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2016/03/10/surprise-nsa-data-will-soon-routinely-be-used-for-domestic-policing-that-has-nothing-to-do-with-terrorism/
Summary:
Citizens of the United States of America are currently upset over the “sneak and peak” provision of the Patriot Act which is on paper only supposed to be used for national security and terrorist related cases but not it is starting to be used in drug related cases. The National Security Agency’s data is starting to be shared with the FBI which allows them to obtain information they would usually require a warrant for.
In essence, local law officials can now have access to citizens personal information which can be used to put them in jail. Law officials or FBI agents no longer need to obtain warrants or have a “national security” related reason to access your emails, tap your calls, etc. They can just “peak” around your information and if they happen to find something then they can pursue charges against you. Thus, the information that the NSA collects for our country’s security can now be used by law officials or FBI agents to put any American in prison. The IRS and DEA have been using the NSA’s data for years and now law officials are too. People have mixed emotion over this because it violates our privacy in many people's eyes.
Relevance:
Security and privacy are a major concern for everyone in any situation. On one hand Americans want their country to be secure and safe but they also want their privacy respected. Is it ethical to let the FBI, DEA, etc. obtain Americans personal information through loopholes and without warrants? Some Americans say yes because our countries safety is most important but others say not because our privacy should be respected above all especially when it's being violated for drug related cases and not national security investigations.
Importance:
Making our citizens aware of what the NSA is doing is crucial to help protect our privacy. They have been doing this for years without the public knowing. This only makes us, Americans question what else they can possibly be doing. By us educating ourselves and on these matters we can better protect our privacy and hold the NSA or any other federal organization accountable for their actions.
Good article. Privacy and security are not trade-offs when it means not being free to say what you want and go where you want, without the government looking over your shoulder. Education is not as important as encryption. How will you hold the government accountable, if you don't know what they are doing?
ReplyDeleteIn Arizona, you only have to look suspicious to be pulled over; no warrant or probably cause needed. How is what the government does so different from that? Is this really a security issue?
The article says nothing about the trade-off between privacy and security, by the way. The title alone should give you a hint about the stance of the author (based on reports in the NYTimes and elsewhere).
ReplyDelete