The Patriot Act in Action

And let's watch her go. Here is an example of the Patriot Act teaming up with technology to invade one's privacy:

In one case, 16 year old Ashton Lundeby's house was raided by FBI agents because of reports stating that there were "bomb threats" coming from his location. (See article here). Lundeby's mother claimed her son's IP address was stoled, apparently from someone in Florida. However, the FBI agents were not interested, and the Patriot Act allowed them to search all sorts of files and records as long as there is some sort of terrorist threat involved. (See Patriot Act here).

Now, we all know that technology is humanity's prized possession. However, we must ask ourselves:

Is technology helping or hurting us?

A Fact About The Patriot Act

It invades our privacy. It is fueled by the increase in technology that has made it possible to attain such private information. (For more information, visit Ara's Blog)
Simply put, the Patriot Act does many things that alter what most Americans consider to be granted to them - not privileges, but rights. Many believe it takes away from their rights to due process - one of the most liberating clauses included in the Bill of Rights.
It is technology that makes plays the role of provider for both the government and other unauthorized individuals to access your files, calls, and thoughts. 

Dangers of Mobile Banking

News Report on the Dangers of Mobile Banking

The link above is a news report done by WSFA News on the increased use of Mobile Banking and the dangers that have resulted because of this increased usage. The video on the link gives a specific example of why people use mobile banking and why it is in such high demand. It also gives mobile banking users tips on how to be safer when using mobile banking websites and applications.

Facebook's New (Anti)Privacy Software

This video is about the semi-recent privacy software that Facebook implemented. This software allows Facebook to read in on every users chats, posts, etc. However, the software only begins reading into chats when there is a weird relationship between the people or if there is some sort of threatening aspect to the conversation. But what exactly is classified as an odd relationship or a threatening comment, and where do you draw the line between safety and privacy?

Phone Trackers Turned into Apps.

IPhones have built in track devices that are used for the navigation systems on the phone so that you can use the phone as a GPS. However, the new application on the iPhone, "Find your Friends," is a complete invasion of privacy. The application is for iPhone users only and it allows you to track the exact location of your friends/family at any given time through the tracker on the iPhone. Although users of the application may say it is not invading your privacy because it is merely telling you the location of the person’s iPhone, this application opens a new window to invading our privacy by allowing others to know our whereabouts 24/7, thus leading to stalking and trailing of people.Yet, many parents approve of this assaulting application. Parents are not only protective and scared, but are also curious about their children’s lives, which leads to them invading their children’s privacy. Parents will say using this application it is not an invasion of privacy because they feel they have the right to know exactly where their children are at any given moment; however, in reality, it is an invasion of privacy because these children may not know that their parents are tracking them and following their every move. A plus side to this application is that the user of the phone (even a child) can delete it; on the other hand, as reported by Amy Lee in the Huffington Post, the new application Footprints has “a parental control feature that makes it impossible for the child to remove it (the application) without the passcode” (More Info On Footprints).

Google Maps: Street View.

Google Maps: Street View is an online website that lets you explore places around the world with a “360 degree street level imagery”.  
Google Maps, Street View zooms in too much.

Google Maps: Street View catches people at embarrassing and personal positions.  These positions may be in public, but they do not want everyone to be able to view them or have access to them easily for a long amount of time. Also, people have created a website called wired.com where others can vote for the best in urban image. The young ladies were voted number one in 2010.

Google Maps: Street View gives anyone easy access to view the outside of your home.  "Critics say it invites abuse.  They argued that thieves could use it to identify targets, security firms could use it to pitch sales, job seekers might find their homes scrutinized by employers, and banks could inspect the homes of loan applicants" (NBC News)

 Google Maps: Street View gives anyone easy  access to view what is considered 'private property'. 

Google Maps: Street View lets you view the New York Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.  (After the Sept. 11 attacks  cameras became banned in the tunnel)

Big Brother Is Always Watching

Since the book 1984 by George Orwell was released, society has a fear of the government and community constantly knowing their every move (especially their every wrong doing). The increased use of technology and the internet has only added to this fear. Society, especially the younger generation, lives on the internet and everything we put online is open to the public eye. We need to be aware that our privacy is on the line because of our frequent and unending use of the internet. And now, due to the increased population of smart phone users who have access to the internet, there is a larger threat to society's privacy (For More Info on Statistical Relationship Between Smart Phones and Invasion of Privacy).