Cell phones, the government and rights to privacy

I'm of two minds about this. Primarily, if there is a crime in progress, the authorities should not have to waste time obtaining a warrant for the information regarding the cell phone of a suspect or a victim. I remember the case of a murdered woman who managed to get her abductor's cell phone while they were in his vehicle but they were unable to locate her before she was killed. I also don't believe that there is an expectation of privacy when using a cell phone. My landline is a secure line but I've never considered my cell as being secure so I never use it to make calls where I'm giving out personal information. Conversations by cell phones can be intercepted but that's a different animal altogether. So, as I said, I'm torn. I believe that there are times when the ability to track a cell phone or to access usage logs can and does save lives.

I do not know why this does not scare everyone, well everyone with a cellphone. Since most of us have cell phone, it is hard to think who does not have a cell phone, the FBI has the ability to track everyone of us within 150 ft. If I have not committed a crime then what business is it to the FBI where I am located.

I think the fact that this is even an issue is a clear indicator of the wrong path our country is on. They have said that citizens have no expectation of privacy in this situation. I say yes I do! This just tells me that much more I should get rid of the cell phone. They plan to have the ability to track you with a National ID card too. Dont ever think that we have the rights and privacy of a hundred years ago.

I had been of the understanding that no government or law enforcement agency has the right to check on where someone is or has been unless there has been a crime committed or the person is question is thought to be in danger, as in the case of a missing person. They've always been able to check phone records if someone is a suspect or what's now called "a person of interest" in a crime. I don't have a GPS unit in my car but we do now have it on our cell phones for when we need directions somewhere and we've had it in rental cars on vacation already. I've already remarked about how if they wanted to someone could find our exact location just like that. On the other hand, many lives have been saved because of this fairly new technology. As there usually are, there are many pros and cons. I absolutely think we all deserve to have our privacy protected and that the government has no right checking into our whereabouts without just cause. However, just as an example, if I or someone I love were to have an accident in a snow storm and couldn't get help I'd sure be happy there is a way to fine me or them! Regarding this lawsuit you mentioned, is it a case of someone from the government just randomly checking up on someone's whereabouts or don't you know any details? This is very interesting. Annie

I guess the first question that would come to mind is - why? Unless it is a person that is wanted or has warrents out then I want to know why would it be neccessary to be able to track anyone? The fact that anyone can go on the internet and put a tracker on anothers cell phone is beyond right here. I think there are some serious invasions in privcy going on, but it's on personal levels too. No, no government has the 'right' to beable to use anyone's cell phone to track them. There has to be justification for it and that could only be established by a warrent. I didn't know the general population were being thrown in with criminals. What country do we live in?

Well I am not a law profetional but I think that FBI have to have a court order to see those records, and the mostly do it in order to catch criminals, because also the cellphone companies has to protect the privacy of their customers, I don't think it is right that they look at the records of everybody, unless there is a powerful reason, like being suspected of a crime. Also the cellphone can't tell you were you are within 150 feets, it can tell you the proper cell phone tower that you are closer to, in some places many be 150 feets, but that is not the case all the time. It depends how far away the towers are placed one from each other, and this depends of many factors. Obviously if your cell phone has gps, that is another story.

This is a very tricky one.As an individual you would want your information kept private but if you are going about your legitimate business then you wouldnt have to be worried about who will know .I am thinking that there has to be some amount of discretion that would come into play .The persons who have access to this information will have to be mindfull of the right of the person . However ,I am thining that this would be a neat way to solve murders since everyone has a cell phone these days and as a matter of fact this is how many criminals commit and organize their crime.There just needs to be spells and checks and regulation as to how when and where this information is used

I don't know when we first started to be ran by the govenment instead of us running the govornment. We are being told everything from terrorists to who know what trying to envade our country so that the govornment can have more power over our lives. The media plays a very big part in what we belive look back on the JFK assasanation.Does anyone now believe Aswald killed JFK ? Probably not but back then we did because thats what they wanted us to believe. I think in a few years down the road we are going to look on the twin towers being hit the same way.We didn't want to pay more taxes for a homeland security until the twin towers were hit. Its horrible that people in high places don't have regard for anyones life when they want something to go their way.