I finished reading the "In Your Facebook" article and, I must admit, have a reaction to it different than I thought. Let me first provide some personal background.
I am a staunch conservative and am highly in favor of the PATRIOT Act. I am a firm believer that in this day and age, we must give up some of our rights to privacy in order to maintain a safe and secure world. However, this is the ONLY reason that I would be willing to give up my rights to privacy.
The way in which some law enforcement and administrative officials are using Facebook is unconstitutional. If I post something on my Facebook that may tell of suicide or homicide, law enforcement cannot ignore that. I believe that life is greater than privacy. However, we Americans hold privacy dear. I believe that life is the only thing that I want more than privacy. It is therefore, a breach of my privacy when law enforcement uses Facebook to arrest people for such things as underage drinking. I post those pictures my friends to see. If I would give my friends a picture and then have the police steal that picture, that is a crime committed by the police. I believe rummaging through Facebook by law enforcement is also a crime.
Comments (4)
You are right. Privacy is way more important than life, no question about it. However, more and more private matters are being shoved into the public spotlight as a result of a better and more evolving Internet. Never before was so much personal information accessible to so many people. It will be interesting to see who will win the battle of public versus private.
Posted by Steven Dodge | October 1, 2007 7:37 PM
Posted on October 1, 2007 19:37
While I too consider myself politically conservative, I believe that once a certain right to privacy is taken, it's highly unlikely one will get it back. Sure, the PATRIOT act can provide Law Enforcement with new tools to stop terrorism, and prevent loss of life. Where, however, is the line drawn for law enforcement? Where does it say that they may ONLY use it in circumstances in which loss of life is imminent?
I suppose I'm more along the libertarian-conservative side of the political spectrum. I usually find myself very reluctant to give up ANY freedoms or privacy rights, due primarily to the knowledge that, historically proven, we're not going to get them back.
Posted by Garrett Miller | October 3, 2007 11:37 AM
Posted on October 3, 2007 11:37
I also am a strong supporter of privacy. I like to consider myself more politically neutral. I agree that in some instances privacy must be sacrificed for security, but I think that searching Facebook is going too far. The PATRIOT Act was supposed to only help prevent terrorist attacks, but instead it allows the government to spy on its own citizens in pretty much any matter they choose. If terrorists were using Facebook to plan an attack, then it would be ok to monitor it. The government really should care less about kids posting pictures of underage drinking, smoking pot, and partying, which is pretty much the worst thing on Facebook.
Posted by Tim Nary | October 3, 2007 12:51 PM
Posted on October 3, 2007 12:51
Underage drinking is aganist the law. I know everyone does it but why incriminate yourself. The police have no right in stealing that information from you or your friend but once it happens your done. I suggest you delete those pictures or untag them becuase that arument will not stand up in court.
Posted by Jamilah Matthews | October 5, 2007 2:19 PM
Posted on October 5, 2007 14:19