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It was disturbing enough when the government was just listening in. Now privacy advocates are afraid the government may be tracking our every move through our cell phones. In November of 2007, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to find out how widespread such tracking is. The DOJ didn't hand over the data, so now the ACLU and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) are taking the DOJ to court to force it to comply with the request.
The ACLU was spurred into action following a blog post in The New York Times in which some courts expressed discomfort with the government's use of cell phone tracking data without probable cause.
How often, and in what situations, the government has utilized this tool is not yet known, but following revelations that the domestic wiretapping was much more widespread than the Bush administration claimed, we simply can't take any chances. [Source: NY Times]
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Comments
21
Subscribe to commentsgerald vaughnJul 2nd 2008 12:11PM
Our govt can't be trusted anymore. They bought driver liscense records in New Jersey a few years ago under a false company to put into a new super computer they use to track everyone. They use the liscense plate recognition cameras at the toll booths to put you into the computer to monitor where you go. The govt uses the non red light cameras to see where you go. They listen to all cell phone calls now without any wire tap needed. Don't trust our govt especially the Bush administration who uses executive privelage every time congress tries to ask about their spying on our own people.
TimJul 2nd 2008 12:51PM
1) The government doesn't need to establish a fake company to BUY state driver's license or motor vehicle registration records. It has direct access to them through NLETS (the National Law Enforcement Terminal System).
2) License plate recognition at toll booths to track you. I have no doubt toll booths use license plate recognition software. Why wouldn't they? And exactly why do you believe the federal government cares where you are going in your Ford Escort?
3) Non red light cameras. Very interesting. Not sure why they would use non red light cameras as red is the shortest wavelength of light. That's why the military uses red lenses on flashlights to read maps in the woods. Maybe you meant non visible light cameras? And you would know this how exactly?
4) I have no doubt the Bush administration has overstepped its authority with electronic surveillance but you really don't have to exaggerate it with wild paranoid ravings....
retro77Jul 2nd 2008 12:52PM
gerald vaughn: If you have any links supporting your claims, please produce them.
HarlockJul 3rd 2008 11:46PM
Defeat license plate cameras by making a license plate frame out of IR LED's.. To the naked eye, they look like they're jewels or LEDs that are off. But to the IR cameras the whole license plate is now a bright white square and completely unreadable.
Same concept as shining a flashlight into a camera lense... Overexposed / oversaturated by incoming light.
Bill FreemanJul 7th 2008 5:27PM
You paronoid freaks need to calm down and get a clue. After 9-11 I have no problem with our government looking at people of interest with or without their knowledge. I had two friends killed in the North Tower and numberous other's either killed or injured in Iraq since then by a group of people who want to kill us for what? Because we don't believe in their version of how they think the world should conduct themselves. Many American's have died for the freedoms we enjoy here in the USA. Every male member of my family going back to my great-grandfather has served in at least one of the four branches of the service including myself who served eight years in the Army. I have a brother flying F16's and a brother in-law flying Blackhawks in two different theater's over there right now protecting not only our brother's in arms but those people who live over there who want the same right's and freedom's we enjoy. Get over yourself and concentrate on doing something to enhance your family's life and help out the community you live in. You conspiracy theorist are a disgrace not only to your own families but to the other citizens of these UNITED States of America. Use your energy to help out those in your community who need it and come up with solutions to the problems those individuals who really deserve it.
sljames55Jul 10th 2008 12:30PM
When does it end? The Government has too much technology so how do you stop the ez-dropping? They keep us busy looking for ways to pay the exorbitant taxes. They watch,they listen,they will be sleeping with us soon!
Our fore-fathers rebelled against TYRANNICAL leadership over 200 years ago surley it won't come to that again. JUST DON'T LET THEM HAVE YOUR GUNS!!
retro77Jul 2nd 2008 12:51PM
As long as it proves that I wasn't at the scene of a crime, I'm good with it. Not like this is being released to private companies to target ads or crap at you...or is it?!
Carlos CarerraJul 2nd 2008 2:26PM
www.keytousc.com
jimJul 3rd 2008 6:06AM
I'm not anymore crazy about being spyed on than anyone else, but the government is going to do what they want until we put a stop to it some how. But as far as giveing up my guns that will never happen. I've had a few dealings with the local law and know that would be dangerous for me and my family. I dont like the Idea of being spyed on or tracked but short of not useing the modern tech.that is available what are we suppose to do?
Jerry on a JourneyJul 3rd 2008 12:05PM
Just plug your computer into the internet and they have you. If you are a person of intrest they will surley profile you and monitor everything you do. If you are reliant on modern tech they have you in the palm of their hands. Iv'e limited my self these days to select TV shows and radio stations. I also read the bible now. They know us more than we know ourselves!
brunoJul 4th 2008 9:21AM
It's already a given that the justice dept. used electronic surveillance to weed out "liberal" justices. Bush is so arrogant with his total disregard for our rights under the Constitution. VOTE OBAMA
markJul 5th 2008 2:45PM
Bruno,
We are'nt going to have time to worry about the Constitution if Obama is elected. We'll be too busy learning how to speak Farsi.
No one specialJul 4th 2008 9:27AM
People have been giving up their right to privacy and various freedoms for the broader cause of safety for thousands of years. I certainly don't like the idea of someone checking out my cell phone activity, driving whereabouts, credit card usage, etc.; but, on the other hand, it's innoculuous in the grand scheme of things because I don't do anything underhanded or subversive, so what's the big deal? Most of us have nothing to hide.
On the other hand, the Supreme Court wisely ruled on guns recently. Today, people do not appreciate the threats that can land on American soil. I believe every American should be armed for self-defense should the need ever arise. Who is to say when Islamic terrorists will strike again or finally decide to go after Israel [and us], or when another Hitler will arise in Europe? Considering the impending world fuel supply crisis and other things, they appear inevitable.
David D. Murray, Esq.Jul 5th 2008 12:13PM
If you have any doubts about the lengths a government can go in the arena of electronic surveillance, just read Greorge Orwell's epic novel entitle "1984" . . . .
DrChrisBNov 11th 2008 2:26PM
Tim:
I believe you meant the wavelength of VISIBLE light when you said:
"Not sure why they would use non red light cameras as red is the shortest wavelength of light. That's why the military uses red lenses on flashlights to read maps in the woods"\
RED is NOT the shortest wavelength of visible light. It is at a lower ENERGY per photon, but in fact it is one of the LONGEST wavelengths of visible light. This can easily be found in the inverse relationship between wavelength and energy. BLUE is one of the shorter wavelengths of visible light and is higher in energy still. Then comes UV Rays (higher energy, shorter wavelength) that is responsible for sunburns and skin cancer.
What the RED lenses for reading maps in the woods are all about, I do not know.
jef69laJul 11th 2008 3:10AM
Thats the problem most have....there ok with this as long as it clears them of any wrongdoing! You people are missing the point! This country was formed because of tyranny and here we are 200+ years later with a gov't thats just as bad! We have become a lazy wuss of a country owned and controlled by the banks and puppet politicians.
Bill NewmanJul 6th 2008 3:13PM
More whining and complaining. You're the same people that said President Bush should have "connected the dots" before 9/11. Just how is the government supposed to "connect the dots"? They can't use profiling because Liberal Democrats said they were "unfairly" targeting middle eastern males of a certain age. Well, who is doing the bombing?
wesJul 8th 2008 1:35AM
back to what this story is about a few years back shortly before 9/11 the government made it a requirement that all cell phones in particulary "smart phones" be manufactured with the ability to be "traced" directly without having to triangulate it's location, additionaly all "firewall" and "encryption" software has to have a built in "backdoor" do your homework and you will find what I say is true 100% nothing is secure, they can "listen in" on your phone even if you are not using it, they have been able to do this since the 1950's I am not being paranoid just stating the circumstances, if you are worried about being traced by your cell phone remove the battery, truly paranoid? go out and buy something random and look for the "RF" chip that is inserted into nearly anything you can buy from books to shoes
bob 7406Jul 29th 2008 9:01PM
What happended to the privacy act
is there one for us and another for bush
pheer6224Jul 13th 2008 3:21AM
whoop de freaking surprise.