Click Here to Read John Whitehead's Commentary
Very interesting and thorough. You might add "Facebook", but I don't know much about that.
J. McVickar
Great article as usual John.
Yup, big brother is watching (inevitably), pity the government is not a big brother.
Rather we are suspects, guilty until proven innocent.
What better way to control the masses other than make them feel vaguely guilty of something (real or imagined) all the time.
I've now been living in the USA for 10 years (legally), working hard, paying tax, jumping through every hoop presented before me.
Yet, this is the way I am slowly, incrementally learning to think and feel - I am a suspect.
Welcome to the land of the free and the home of the brave.
America has definitely seen better days.
J. Grounds
Dear Mr. Whitehead,
The two most disturbing aspects of what you write are: 1. Liberals, conservatives, democrats, and republicans are all on board with the government having this power, and 2. The mainstream media will cheerleader this with the most annoying cliche --- well, if you're not doing anything wrong, you don't have anything to worry about.
Let's face it Mr. Whirehead, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, in reality, have been reduced to documents under glass. They are to be seen, and admired, but totally ignored by what passes for justice (sic) in early 21st century America.
And, as I tell my friends and associates, most of whom are rabid Faux News enthusiasts, if one is waiting for political salvation from the GOP, or the dems for that matter, they will be sorely disappointed.
Best regards,
B. Gentile
Sir:
Your article describes perfectly one of the reasons that I refuse to get a cell phone. Another reason is that cell phones can be turned on remotely to enable the police and others to monitor your conversations, even when you are not using the phone. The only way to stop this is to remove the battery.
C. Browne
It is much worse than just tracking your location via GPS.
Cell phones can be used as bugging devices to monitor your (non-telephone) conversations, and the U.S. government routinely does this.
There was a court case brought by a known mafioso to try to stop the government from listening in on people's conversations.
The government prevailed (no surprise).
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/12/remotely_eavesd_1.html
http://www.theinternetpatrol.com/your-cell-phone-can-be-used-to-eavesdrop-on-you-even-when-turned-off/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G1fNjK9SXg
H.
John,
While I agree with the Oceania allusions, you are way off in blaming technology. Technology is a tool. The criminals are those who (mis)use it. What you're doing is tantamount to blaming guns for shootings.
You will never stop the thought police by stripping them of some of their tools. The tools do not matter. There were no cell phones and GPS in 1984's Oceania.
M. Turner
Hi John,
Just read your recent essay at LRC. I can assure you, we already live in Oceania, our rights are violated on a daily basis for prolonged periods of time. Government is out of control, they are creating problems where no problems should exist. I don't think this will end well.
The intrusions are far more insidious than you suggest and somehow we have to fight back and halt this monster.
Sincerely,
M. Porter
Hi
In the words of the late Harry Browne. He said " there may a camera in every room but it won't work".
It seems to me that we have arrived at that point. The morons in charge may have access to data but they can't make it work. Too much, the cameras break, the lenses show unclear images, bureaucrats and bureaucracies are systemically lazy on top of that.
Our only real defense is the ineptitude of those behind the cameras.
Despite all of the satellites and radios and heavy artillery and airplanes and helicoptors and high powered weapons we are unable to defeat a bunch of Afghani's and Iraqi's with AK47's and RPG's. My explanation for this is that they are not incompetent and we are.
Funny stuff.
All the best.
J. Harrison
I don't understand the whining about the technology and, also, think that any tools that may be useful in an investigation or as evidence in a court of law can't be a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteI only wish that cell phone triangulation would be as accurate as the writer states - my BB Google Maps would then be more useful.
The main question is - "Who do you want to protect from someone else's knowledge of your real time location?" I would think that "justifiable cause" and/or "hot pursuit" might be appropriate in these situations.
Dr. R. B. Fischer