Supreme Court Confronts Profound Impact Tracking Technologies Have on Americans' Privacy
Yesterday, the Supreme Court confronted the profound impact of new location-tracking technologies on Americans' privacy. The case, U.S. v. Jones, presents the question of whether law enforcement needs a warrant before planting a GPS tracking device on a person's car. No matter how the court decides, we all have a right to privacy. You don't need a GPS tracking device attached to your car to have your location and personal information compromised. In fact, we may be unknowingly compromising our privacy just by having a cell phone.
When you signed up for that cell phone plan, you probably didn't think it meant the government would have unlimited access to your conversations and location data. Find out what information your provider is keeping on you and then tell them you want your privacy back! In response to a nationwide campaign to learn how our cell phones are being used to monitor us, the ACLU now has hard data on the extent to which cell phone companies record your movements and your conversations.
Some of them keep your location data for 1 year — some keep it forever. Some of them keep a list of every person you've called or texted for 1 year — and some keep it for as much as 7 years. Tell your cell phone carrier that you want your privacy back! Many of us rely on our cell phones on a daily basis. But using our phones shouldn't mean giving up control of our personal information. The records cell phone providers collect can be extremely personal. Your location history, call records, and other data can expose your daily routine — and when you make an exception to that routine. And this data can reveal where you protest or worship, the friends, lovers, or doctors you visit, and more.
Cell phones reveal location as a side effect of how the technology works, but why are the cell phone carriers keeping our sensitive location data for so long? What business is it of theirs whether you attended a rally last year or who you texted in 2004? If a company wants to keep your personal data, it should tell you why and ask your permission. Find out today what data your mobile phone provider is keeping about you and demand stronger privacy protections to keep your personal information safe. Thanks for all you do to ensure that as technology advances, civil liberties are not left behind.
The ACLU Online Team
© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/07/w...
When you signed up for that cell phone plan, you probably didn't think it meant the government would have unlimited access to your conversations and location data. Find out what information your provider is keeping on you and then tell them you want your privacy back! In response to a nationwide campaign to learn how our cell phones are being used to monitor us, the ACLU now has hard data on the extent to which cell phone companies record your movements and your conversations.
Some of them keep your location data for 1 year — some keep it forever. Some of them keep a list of every person you've called or texted for 1 year — and some keep it for as much as 7 years. Tell your cell phone carrier that you want your privacy back! Many of us rely on our cell phones on a daily basis. But using our phones shouldn't mean giving up control of our personal information. The records cell phone providers collect can be extremely personal. Your location history, call records, and other data can expose your daily routine — and when you make an exception to that routine. And this data can reveal where you protest or worship, the friends, lovers, or doctors you visit, and more.
Cell phones reveal location as a side effect of how the technology works, but why are the cell phone carriers keeping our sensitive location data for so long? What business is it of theirs whether you attended a rally last year or who you texted in 2004? If a company wants to keep your personal data, it should tell you why and ask your permission. Find out today what data your mobile phone provider is keeping about you and demand stronger privacy protections to keep your personal information safe. Thanks for all you do to ensure that as technology advances, civil liberties are not left behind.
The ACLU Online Team
© ACLU, 125 Broad Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10004
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/07/w...
This is going to be interesting to no end. And, I say this because it is too general.example, One goes out in public to buy a phone,plus contracts and certain conditions are set by all parites involved in this process, right? The police putting something on your car in a public place is different that coming on private property to do same thing,plus it is all one sided this way, right???(smile)