Invasion of privacy? Or just keeping us safe?
By Rhapsody1851
@Rhapsody1851 (246)
United States
April 9, 2008 4:46pm CST
Today I came across a story on digg that concerned me. And made my blood burn a little. The FBI has raised it's budget from 30 million dollars in 2007 to 40 million dollars for 2008, for their "tracking system". The headline for this story was: FBI also spies on home soil for military, documents show; Much information acquired without court order. When does "keeping us safe" turn in to plain of invasion of privacy? I'm not a paranoid loon or anything ( or maybe I am haha )but this makes me wonder who they are spying on and why? The FBI has a tracking program that allows them to eavesdrop on IM's, emails, and cell phones. That's just too much power, and it's concerning because it's being done without going through our justice system first! The article's headline states that much of the information acquired was done so without a court order!
link to story-http://rawstory.com/news/2008/FBI_linked_to_national_eavesdropping_program_0408.html
This bascially says to me that anyone they deem a "person of interest" is on their "watch list". How do we know that their concerns are merited? They can just go and spy on anyone they like and no one can stop them. I am not one of those " the government is out to get you" people but I do have a slight mistrust of our gonvernment. This article is one of my top reasons. Plus there is the human factor. The men and women running this program-how do we know they keep to their ethics and keep this country's citizens' privacy in mind? I mean, they ARE only human...What's to stop them from spying on someone they don't like? I know that sounds silly, but i know if I had the power to listen to anyone's conversation I pleased, I'd TOTALLY snoop on some people because I'm human, and I'm nosey haha.
My question to you is, what do you think about this? Do you consider this needful to keep our country safe from our enemies who are living on our soil? Or has this just reached the level of plain old fashioned invasion of privacy, eavesdropping, or "snooping"?
Invasion of privacy? Or just keeping us safe?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@98765m (1017)
• India
11 Apr 08
I know how you feel.Not all the governments in all countries are trust worthy.Politics is quite often referred as "dirty politics".
I definitely agree that its a bit invasion on privacy.I wont mind FBI to track mails of wanted terrorists or some under world organisation .But,I am against tracking of mails of all common people.This is ridiculous.Next ,may be they will suggest to keep video cameras in each house !So,I both agree and disagree with the FBI.I also agree that there is a chance of misuse of other private informations,which are not required by FBI.
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By the way,I think you can get better responses by highlighting your question.I mean,its difficult to see your question in the article.Keep your question simple.Maybe in this case,
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Do you agree with the eavesdropping by FBI?Or just keeping us safe?
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This being followed by the article.
I say this because,when people see like this,they would think it as copy / pasted.They wont think at that time that you cant copy paste,as your number of posts is less than 500.I think what I have said would help you.
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Cheers ! Have a nice day.
@Rhapsody1851 (246)
• United States
13 Apr 08
AH thank you 987 haha!
Maybe that's why this topic got buried and no one else responded lol.
And also, thank you for the other advice. :)
1 person likes this
@saraines (154)
• United States
30 Sep 08
I totally agree with you, i think up to a certain point the government uses the excuse of protection to invade our privacy, it seems like we no longer have any. everywhere you go there are cameras, how far are they willing to go in the name of safety?
