The Truth about Privacy - Blog Post #5

Nothing is private. The small computers we carry in our pockets each day are constantly invading our privacy and constantly surveiling us. After further educating myself through the various TedTalks, my eyes have been opened to the truth about surveillance. 

The issue of constantly being watched by our government is something that does not cross my mind everyday. As I spend time on social media, driving to my favorite coffee shop, or attending church on Sunday mornings, I am not thinking about if the government is watching me; but maybe I should. 

After becoming more aware of the capabilities our government, or anyone with a cell phone has, this issue is something I will vow to be more aware of. I do not have a criminal record and I have never broken the law, yet the government probably has my license plate number and other ways of keeping tabs on me. As a 19-year-old girl, this is a scary fact. Technology has brought so much possibility and growth into our world, but it has also opened hundreds of doors for people with bad intentions to take advantage of people who are just trying to live out their lives. 

While watching the TedTalk videos, I found myself trying to justify the government's actions regarding surveillance. What if a the police were able to catch a criminal because of license plate readers? What if a violent act was prevented because they wire tapped someone's phone? The truth of the matter is, this does happen. The government is able to catch criminals and solve cases because of these resources, but does this justify the constant watching of innocent civilians? 

I believe that the government should still be able to surveil United States citizens who have made conscious decisions that place them on a watch list. However, I do not believe that the government has the right to surveil every person that drives to work or purchases something at their local convenience store. There needs to be a filter system in place to ensure that law-abiding citizens do not have their privacy invaded each and every day. 

In my opinion, our cellphones are the root of the problem. They are constantly listening and collecting data on us. In order to combat this invasion of privacy we all experience, we must think about our actions on our phones and use encrypted communication tools to secure our calls, texts, and search history. Additionally, we have every right to tell apps on our phone "NO". By changing privacy settings and not allowing apps to store data, we can build another wall of protection into our private life. 

TedTalks Referenced:

How to avoid surveillance ... with the phone in your pocket

Your online life, permanent as a tattoo

The small and surprisingly dangerous detail the police track about you