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el_bryanto

(11,804 posts)
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:04 PM Jun 2013

Do you believe that if you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear from wiretapping?

I'm curious about how many people here actually believe this - and obviously I can see why you might not want to argue it outright.

To get my biases out on the table - I do, though, see valid reasons for why the Government might need to wiretap its citizens - but such reasons need to be monitored through a number of checks and balances to make sure they aren't abused.

But I'm curious how many would agree with the statement "If you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear from wiretapping or other forms of surveillance."

Bryant


15 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
I totally agree with that statement
0 (0%)
I somewhat agree with that statement
2 (13%)
I have no strong feelings on that statement
0 (0%)
I have mixed feelings on that statement
0 (0%)
I somewhat disagree with that statement
1 (7%)
I totally disagree with that statement
12 (80%)
Here's a statement "Stop Posting Bullshit Polls!"
0 (0%)
I like to vote!
0 (0%)
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Do you believe that if you haven't done anything wrong, you have nothing to fear from wiretapping? (Original Post) el_bryanto Jun 2013 OP
First, no can be truly innocent in the surveillance state. Deep13 Jun 2013 #1
Define "wrong." ZombieHorde Jun 2013 #2
just text it... Capobvious Jun 2013 #3
Well some people like to talk rather than text el_bryanto Jun 2013 #4
They can get text records, too ... Myrina Jun 2013 #8
What makes you think texts aren't part of telecom records? geek tragedy Jun 2013 #10
You've got to be kidding me. The more information is collected, the more likely it is to be misused PDJane Jun 2013 #5
If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear. closeupready Jun 2013 #6
I disagree with that statement JustAnotherGen Jun 2013 #7
well... FirstLight Jun 2013 #9
Only a fool would believe that whatchamacallit Jun 2013 #11
The question is irrelevant, for the Government to listen a Warrant is required. 1-Old-Man Jun 2013 #12
Privacy is a very poor protection of civil rights FarCenter Jun 2013 #13
how many people have been canned for out of context use of photos lately Johonny Jun 2013 #14
It's not just you not doing anything wrong. JoeyT Jun 2013 #15

Deep13

(39,154 posts)
1. First, no can be truly innocent in the surveillance state.
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:09 PM
Jun 2013

Part of its purpose is to make people constantly in fear of detection. Consequently it criminalizes common, harmless behavior so that no one has nothing to fear. Second, even if I have done nothing wrong, I still have something to hide: my privacy. There are non-criminal interests, ideas, and expression that I have that I still do not want to be made public for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with breaking the law. Finally, this is a non-issue since the Fourth Amendment already is the law of the land. Consequently, and the state must justify any intrusion into ones privacy, not the other way around.

ZombieHorde

(29,047 posts)
2. Define "wrong."
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:10 PM
Jun 2013

If you used the word "illegal," then I would not agree with the statement, but "wrong" is a bit different, and may lead me to agree with the statement, as far as my own personal safety is concerned.

Capobvious

(13 posts)
3. just text it...
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:10 PM
Jun 2013

who calls anyone anymore?

I love how it takes 10 years for most people to wake up.

You can start a poll about "stop and frisk" as well

el_bryanto

(11,804 posts)
4. Well some people like to talk rather than text
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:11 PM
Jun 2013

And if they can get this kind of information why not texts? Seems like that would be even easier.

Bryant

Myrina

(12,296 posts)
8. They can get text records, too ...
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:30 PM
Jun 2013

... just because you hit 'delete' doesn't mean they're gone. They're still sitting on the big server in the sky somewhere as compressed data.

 

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)
10. What makes you think texts aren't part of telecom records?
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:37 PM
Jun 2013

Also, a lot easier for the govt to obtain the content of a text message than it is to obtain the content of a phone call

PDJane

(10,103 posts)
5. You've got to be kidding me. The more information is collected, the more likely it is to be misused
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:11 PM
Jun 2013

Misunderstood, taken out of context, or otherwise manipulated.

 

closeupready

(29,503 posts)
6. If you've done nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear.
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:14 PM
Jun 2013

If you've something to hide, you shouldn't even be here!

FirstLight

(13,352 posts)
9. well...
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 03:35 PM
Jun 2013

It's more like this...I don't think the govt has their shit together enough to find anything on me, especially anything important.

I think wiretapping is inherently wrong. But I also think most of us are safe from the keystone cops of homeland security...

1-Old-Man

(2,667 posts)
12. The question is irrelevant, for the Government to listen a Warrant is required.
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 04:17 PM
Jun 2013

No ifs, ands or Government butts.

 

FarCenter

(19,429 posts)
13. Privacy is a very poor protection of civil rights
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 04:43 PM
Jun 2013

If you can only do something if you are sure no one will find out, then you are not really free to do it.

This is what is known as "security by obscurity".

For example, if you can only have a gay lover if no one finds out, then you are not really free to express your sexuality.

What is needed, instead of depending on privacy, is the right to live life as you see fit, say what you want to say, and do what you want to do without fear of government reaction or social opression.

Had the actual sexual behavior of politicians, clergy, civic and business leaders been public knowlege, gay rights would have happened long ago.

Johonny

(20,684 posts)
14. how many people have been canned for out of context use of photos lately
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 05:01 PM
Jun 2013

How much BS was created from those ACORN video's. How much hay was produced from those climategate emails. I think it is safe to say you can do nothing wrong and find information used out of context to severely damage you.

JoeyT

(6,785 posts)
15. It's not just you not doing anything wrong.
Thu Jun 6, 2013, 05:35 PM
Jun 2013

You'd better hope everyone you know doesn't do anything wrong. And everyone they know.

After finding out how easily people could get put on a no-fly list and how god-awful it was to get off (If it was even possible) you'd expect people to be a little more upset about this.

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