During a recent Mafia case, it came out that the FBI has been approved to monitor people via their cell phones. No, not just picking up the conversation via traditional tech. They NOW have the ability to activate (turn on) your cell phone from another location, and listen to conversations around you at tables, in your home, where you work, as long as you have the battery in the phone. Your phone doesn't have to be on, they don't have to notify you, and they can listen to everything you're saying. It's also admissable in court.
They are also able to use the Onstar system in vehicles to listen to conversations in cars.
NEXTEL has said they were not asked, and did not contribute to the technology. Nokia phones are among those easiest to do this with.
My question, do you think this is fine, as long as they are trying to catch "bad guys", or does this blow your mind that you can't even get in your car without worrying about your navigational gizmo being a microphone?
2006-12-02 14:10:41 · 13 answers · asked by His Old Lady 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
It's an invasion of our privacy. And for those who said "I've got nothing to hide so it's ok by me", this isn't about YOU, it's about our freedom and it's about the Constitution. We're not subjects of the state. We're individuals with rights given to us at birth by our creator and guaranteed in our Constitution.
If you've got "nothing to hide" then you should be madder than heck that the government is invading your privacy. Don't just shrug it off.
2006-12-02 17:17:53 · answer #1 · answered by sister_godzilla 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wow! First off, I'm amazed by all the people who are eager to admit they are so dull and boring that they would put a manatee to sleep. Pathetic, people, it's like you relish being not remotely "arrestable." I'm with Blue Steel, as my singing would qualify an FBI agent for hazardous duty pay. And poor Turntable, who thinks the FBI Are His Friends. Hasn't he ever seen a picture of J. Edgar in drag? God, I just shuddered involutarily. And Dude, it IS in the private sector. A hacker used it just last year to generate some excitement...
I saw this same article on CNet a few days ago, and was absolutely disgusted by it. I'm also not naive enough to believe I'm too dull to rate them doing it to my phone. If the criminals stop using cell phones, whose phone do you think the FBI will remotely activate? Whoever happens to be near them in public---at airports, restaurants,--oh yeah, good luck. And it's your phone. So guess who can be co-indicted. Sounds like a movie plot? Not hardly. This is our world in 2006, and why I live in a swamp with a bunch of animals with no TV or cell phone coverage.
2006-12-02 14:59:31 · answer #2 · answered by Charlotte M 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a total violation of our rights that is eliminating our freedom.I am not doing any thing illegal,& this makes me want to throw my phone in the trash.People think oh,you must be doing something wrong for them to listen to you.Not true.Did you ever stop to think the people doing the wrong things might just be the ones watching your every move,you know there is such a thing as crooked cops who may just want to know when your not at home so they could rob your house or even rape your wife ,who knows.This technology is not exclusively limited to only law enforcement .The ones who made it also haveit. EVERYTHING comes with a price.If you have enough money you can get that technology& use it for good or evil .Its a very bad thing Im about two steps away from eliminating every electrical componit in my house .My life is my bussiness.Eyes on your own paper.
2006-12-02 14:42:13 · answer #3 · answered by bradship4u 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
That's really nothing new, they've had the technology for years. They can pinpoint your location anytime with the same technology. If it bothers you simply get rid of your cell phone, you can live without it. What is scary is that eventually it will be available to the private sector.
2006-12-02 14:31:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's creepy. I have nothing to worry about, but still. I don't want people to be able to just listen to my conversations whenever they want. Isn't that an invasion of privacy or something? I think that is making their job too easy. Shouldn't they have to work to find the bad guys? Just my opinion.
2006-12-02 14:26:40 · answer #5 · answered by r_finewood 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It blows my mind that they have this kind of technology.
But I wouldn't be too worried unless I was a "bad guy." I am sure they would get tired of me singing along with the car stereo after awhile.
2006-12-02 14:16:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I really don't care either way, I am just a little fish...a common man. I am not a terrorist, mafia leader or criminal kingpin, why the hell would the CIA or FBI want to even listen to my phone calls which deal with me talking football, getting told to buy some milk before coming home or arguing about the damn cell phone bill.
Maybe you just think your so important that the FBI would want to listen to your phone calls.
2006-12-02 14:19:35 · answer #7 · answered by Wiseguy 4 · 3⤊ 4⤋
They can listen to anything I have to say to anyone. They will probably get bored and go to sleep. Nevertheless. with this technology, why hasn't drug trafficking come to a standstill ?
Kinda make one wonder!
2006-12-02 14:20:22 · answer #8 · answered by scallywag 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
not only that which is scary enough. think about stalkers and muggers, rapists being able to track you by your cell phone we should just call them tracking devices
2006-12-02 14:14:54 · answer #9 · answered by Enigma 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I think it is pretty chicken s--- The law was set up so they could monitor "terrorist " activity- they tweaked it so they could check up on everyone- ssssh, they are listening!
2006-12-02 14:14:46 · answer #10 · answered by boilerrat 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋