Friday, September 14, 2012

Cellular Data Tracking: Effective or Invasive?


Ever since President George W. Bush signed the Patriot Act into law after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, law enforcement agencies have been able to monitor and track digital information from cell phones throughout the nation. There has been a lot of controversy over this because the people's privacy can easily be invaded at any time and the concept of “privacy” just does not exist anymore. Federal officials are often demanding data information from cell phone carriers so that they can ensure domestic tranquility and defend the US, but many people still believe that the law should not have the power to be able to spy on individuals.
The Patriot Act provides many benefits to federal officials such as being able to track and locate criminals, suspects, and fugitives. The primary goal of the act was to protect the nation from terrorist attacks, and so far the country has been secure. Due to cell phone data provided by carriers, law enforcement has been very efficient at protecting citizens from threats. It can also be seen as a good thing that federal officials force cell phone companies to provide them with data information because this way they are able to keep a tab on all cell phone users and can more efficiently monitor criminal activity and suspicious behavior. However, the ability for federal officials to spy on peoples’ lives comes with a price.
There are many disadvantages with law enforcement forcing cell phone companies to provide their customers’ data. The most obvious problem here is that officials can know where an individual is at any time. They can look up any information they want about an individual and can invade their privacy without a warrant and without the individual ever knowing. Peter Maass of ProPublica does a great job of explaining how a cell phone should actually be called a "tracker" because it keeps track of a cell phone user and this information can be accessed by a stranger with no affiliation to the user. Another disadvantage is that advertising and marketing companies can exploit this resource by tracking and discovering what consumers like to do and where they usually go. Since federal officials now have the right to access data information, no one will have legitimate privacy unless they are far away from phones and other trackers.
Given the advantages and disadvantages, it might be good that federal officials are demanding data information from cell phone companies. It is true that privacies are invaded, but there is more security and ease-of-mind that the nation will be safer because threats can be more easily terminated and crime can drastically decrease due to the resources that federal officials now possess. Officials mean well when they want data information, and they are not using it only to invade others’ lives. If the Patriot Act had not been signed into law, many conflicts and crimes may have occurred that would have changed the present state of the US, but thankfully federal officials have been doing their jobs and will hopefully continue to protect this great nation.