Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Showing Original Post only (View all)Destroying the Right to Be Left Alone [View all]
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/09/23-1***SNIP
You Wont Need a Warrant for That
Have no doubt: the Fourth Amendment is fast becoming an artifact of a paper-based world.
The core idea behind that amendment, which prohibits the government from unreasonable searches and seizures, is that its representatives only get to invade peoples private space -- their persons, houses, papers, and effects -- after it convinces a judge that theyre up to no good. The technological advances of the last few decades have, however, seriously undermined this core constitutional protection against overzealous government agents, because more and more people dont store their private information in their homes or offices, but on company servers.
Consider email.
In a series of rulings from the 1970s, the Supreme Court created the third-party doctrine. Simply stated, information shared with third parties like banks and doctors no longer enjoys protection under the Fourth Amendment. After all, the court reasoned, if you shared that information with someone else, you must not have meant to keep it private, right? But online almost everything is shared with third parties, particularly your private e-mail.
Back in 1986, Congress recognized that this was going to be a problem. In response, it passed the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA). That law was forward-looking for its day, protecting the privacy of electronic communications transmitted by computer. Unfortunately, it hasnt aged well.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
79 replies, 7186 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (69)
ReplyReply to this post
79 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Unfortunately when they have had enough it will be long too late to do anything.
former9thward
Sep 2013
#37
While the invasion of my privacy is not an issue I would change my vote to Romney ....
marble falls
Sep 2013
#9
But the Democrats would be doing something very different if Romney were POTUS
Fumesucker
Sep 2013
#23
Reading comprehension much? I loathe Romney. I support the President except on privacy....
marble falls
Sep 2013
#36
Please reread my comment. I support the Presient except on privacy, Gitmo and.....
marble falls
Sep 2013
#39
Sorry! Even gentle critisism of the President brings down a raft of tone deaf ....
marble falls
Sep 2013
#43
Like connecting directly to the cloud with almost no computer - all you'd need is a screen and ...
marble falls
Sep 2013
#10
Well, that IS a consideration. Perhaps there could be multiple levels of "internet."
MADem
Sep 2013
#21
And that's how the phone used to work. You picked up the receiver, you cranked the crank, and
MADem
Sep 2013
#26
K&R but make no mistake, it's not the technology. Like so many previous wrong turns,
Egalitarian Thug
Sep 2013
#11
Well, I'm all for the "safety nannies" who tell people to not drink and text while driving.
MADem
Sep 2013
#47
I just had a loved one killed by someone who felt the rules didn't apply to them.
MADem
Sep 2013
#63
So money is greater than freedoms? Where does that stop? What you eat, drink, etc?
The Straight Story
Sep 2013
#66
The intent of those who wrote and adopted the US Constitution could not be clearer
99th_Monkey
Sep 2013
#77