Under what circumstances do you think the government should have the right to invade the privacy of ...?

Question

an individual with electronic listening devices and video equipment? Should commercial organizations be allowed to do so as well? What about private individuals? Please explain.

Answer 1

Your question makes a good point. We probably are less threatened by the goverment as w are by private and commerical organizations who have the same access. I have participated in some research about that and we found that private organizations run rampant over personal privacy while the government is (1) less active than we think, (2) keep records of the how and why they researched a citizen, (3) we have some safeguards and recourse from government intrusion and (4) private information gatherers are virutally unrestrained and ruthless in the sale of personal information. We want to think we are threatened by the government and there are those who obssess about that, all the while financial, insurance and medical researchers collect and traffic in huge amounts of private information. Your question was well asked and very intuitive.

Answer 2

I would limit such devices as much as possible, if I could. The problem is, how can you? Once a thing is invented, it will be used. The only question is whether you can sue them for it if you catch them at it. Or better yet, press criminal charges AND sue!

Privacy is getting to be a rare and precious commodity in the modern world. In order to protect one's privacy, it is almost necessary to retire from the world entirely, as in a monastery or ashram. In fact, I am not sure even they stay completely free; they may have computers, too, after all, and be on the Internet.

My Steve took a course in computer security, and the teacher started by telling the class there is only one completely foolproof way to keep your computer secure: don't use the Internet at all. Obviously not a practical alternative for many of us.

Answer 3

If the government gets a warrant, which is official permission from a judge, then they can investigate you. The government needs to show evidence that you're probably committing a crime.

Commercial organizations, I imagine you mean on THEIR property, they can do pretty much what they want. They would have to convince the police if they want to accuse you of a crime. If you don't like what a commercial organization is doing, then don't do business with them. Or publicly criticize them, give them bad publicity. Don't just whine vaguely.

Answer 4

Oh man!!!! What have you done! Now they're listening us!!!!!!

I would love to say never! But in the face of terrorists and major crime syndicates ....................

Problem being with giving government the authority to invade privacy in any capcaity for any reason is that the government will take it to the extreme. it will grow. History shows us that government can not be trusted to always have the best interst of the people at heart! It also shows us that government will corupt.

In todays world there are weapons, readily available, that can kill thousands of people wth one fell swoop. Bio weapons, dirty weapons, tremendous boms and much more! We also have things in space so sensitive and finely tuned they can watch a man taking a whizz in his own back yard and tell you how long his who-who is!

IN a real and heartfelt answer to your questoin, God help us all either way we go.

Answer 5

Well, the way that I look at it, the government does this in the name of national security. This is their way of singling out the ones that mean to do harm to others.

As a law-abiding citizen, I don't fear or care really, if my conversations are heard because I don't plan to break the law.

Only those who plan espionage, anarchy, etc. should beware of the government's attempts to find them out.

Those that scream and cry 'invasion of privacy!' just for heck of it should get a life, don't you think?

Answer 6

Security of people is of utmost importance. There should be no comprise on it. Commercial organization may be allowed to take security measures at their premises.

Answer 7

NONE!!!