.....I really don't understand people who believe all politicians are bent on destroying or undermining the very society that voted them into office. I think such beliefs are simply unfounded and make no sense at all. And I scratch my head at why they continue to live in such a society instead of moving to a more favorable one. And I would be curious where in the world they would move that would be more favorable?
I never said that about all politicians. I do think most are willing to bend a few rules or act against the public interest in a covert way to get elected, to get another bill they consider more important passed, or to get an endorsement or campaign contribution. The quality of our particular government is not the primary problem, human nature is the problem. I don't like giving too much power to anyone.
I don't know anyone who believes that civil rights does not extend to technology and media.
Several people I have debated in this forum claim that privacy protection laws should no apply to cell phones and e-mail.
I think when you say that, you are being purposely dishonest. There is a debate as to what constitutes a civil right and what does not, but I don't know anyone that believes civil rights does not extend to technology and media.
Films were censored by the government for decades, television and radio is censored by the government except late at night, and there have been numerous attempts to to impose censorship on audio recordings and the internet.
Now you have labeled me. Interestingly, even after I have made the statement that I am against the use of technology to needlessly spy on ordinary, law abiding people just going about their business. At least, without due cause or reason which would have to be filtered thru a process that has to answer to the judiciary system.
I don't think we agree on the parameters of inappropriate spying. I consider government collection of data that citizens reasonably think is kept confidential by the vendors they use (i.e cellphone and internet metadata and content) an invasion of privacy.
I do believe people have the right to privacy as far as they are willing to protect their own information. I don't think it should be solely up to the government to protect your information. It's your information! And if you leave it solely up to the government, or anyone else other than yourself, then you yourself are partially complicit in your own demise.
I believe that government regulations should require genuine
informed consent when businesses collect confidential information from customers. The other issue is government collection, retention and analyses of confidential personal information, which beyond certain information necessary for tax collection etc., should require a specific warrant or genuine informed consent.
However, we see today that people are willing to give up privacy for technology and convinience. People are voting with their participation in social networking. Which is booming in our society and it is something I don't think you will ever be able to get rid of. Since it is something we will never get rid of, we will also never get rid of the potential our information is at risk of being used by others to harm us. Social media will only continue to grow and become more intrusive. It is a trend that once it has started, it will only grow. You can either embrace that as most have, or you can disconnect yourself from it. No one forces you to be a part of it.
You may be right about the enduring popularity of social media. I don't think people have given genuinely informed consent to the collection of confidential personal information and the sharing of that information with the governement for retention and analyses.
Here we go with the fearmongering again. I don't even know if I want to even tackle the above comment other than to say that if you actually believe the government is going to go thru the trouble to spy on any one individual just because, then nothing I can say will convince you otherwise. I would be wasting my time and would rather allow you to waste your time building that soundproof bunker 100 feet below ground then waste my time explaining to you how ridiculous doing something like that would be.
I don't think the government is going to spy on just anybody. I think they are mostly going to spy on legitimate criminal suspects and enemies of the governement. But, if individual government employees, contractors and elected officials are not carefully monitored and effectively
prevented from misusing these tools and information, it will be used for personal or political gain or revenge.
Since they will not
always be carefully monitored and effectively prevented from misusing these tools and information, abuses will happen. That is human nature.