Blog post #5 Privacy

 

  Privacy?  Does this topic concern you?  It should!  Did you know that you are being tracked in your vehicle, everywhere you go?  The time, date, location….even photos of you and your car are being stored!  Every spot you have traveled is being tracked!  If you are still on the fence about being tracked….keep on reading!

 

     Nobody wants family or friends being tracked or photographed for no apparent reason.  Guys, we aren’t talking criminals here. There are automatic licenses plate readers everywhere!  Haven’t noticed them?  Look more carefully at police cruisers, traffic lights, stop signs…even light poles in some cities.  Every passing vehicle is being tracked and monitored. Thousands of license plates are being photographed by the minute! These mass location tracking devices then pass along all of this information to government officials and other agencies. Information such as license plate numbers, date, time, location, etc is all being captured. What is the end result?  An enormous database with countless innocent motorists’ information that is secured for years! There are very few restrictions on this information…the privacy rights of these innocent motorists are being violated.

 

     Another biggy for tracking your whereabouts is through cell towers. Did you know that once your device connects to a cell tower, the data is collected from your device?  Data such as location, phone numbers called, and duration of call.  This high-tech surveillance equipment is tracking your every move, providing wiretapped information. Did you know that your phones and networks are all wired for surveillance?  Anyone could be listening!  Am I frustrated with this?  You better believe it! 

 

     How can this issue be resolved?  There is no simple solution, but some actions can be implemented by Corporations to help lessen the privacy breach.  No doubt about it, we need technology to capture criminals.  However, we don’t need our civil liberties threatened due to political advantages, hackers, or even terrorists! Disposal of data of innocent people would help. Furthermore, companies like Apple and WhatsApp must continue taking action by using encryption technology that is built into the phone or platform by default. 

 

     What can we, the every-day citizens, do to maintain our privacy?  Keep in mind that our civil liberties must be maintained for all Americans!  Don’t forget, the core American value is privacy.  We should be allowed to think as we wish, vote how we want to vote, and not be tracked everywhere we go….just to name a few.  Our privacy is being endangered, that’s why this is so important.  Digital technology has changed so much over the years.  Not only can some corporations such as Apple make a difference, but we as people can rise up and rebel.  We must protest the spying and surveillance that’s being done on innocent people for no apparent reason. We can’t allow this invasion of privacy to become the norm!  Stand up, let your voice be heard!  Spread the word, reach out to your government officials…our privacy must be protected!