Is the government out to get us?

[JackShephard]

This was basically inspired by my teacher. We where doing a technology presentation where we all researched different tech.
Anyway, she said that she heard something about the government being able to open a phone's camera and mic to "spy on us" and track out whereabouts. I'm not paranoid about it, in fact, I really don't care. But I was wondering what you guys had to say. Is it right? Do you think "big brother" can actually do that?

IMO, I don't give a crap if they are doing that. It's not harming me. It's probably for the better if they are using it to track suspected terrorists and other threats. This thread is probably going to get responses from 2 extremes is the opinion spectrum. Have at it :)

[Sith Lord 13]

No they can't. If they can, they should need a warrant. So long as they need a warrant, I have no problem with it.

[Death]

No they can't. If they can, they should need a warrant. So long as they need a warrant, I have no problem with it.

Hoe easy do you think getting a warrent for something like that be? Because I would expect them to be absolutely sure before poking their nose into what is otherwise none of their business.

[Obscene Eyedeas]

While some people have been collecting personal information from people by keyloggers, I doubt the government would. I mean come on I don't think they would give a shit about one kid in a whole country. No you're not that important to your government that they would even activate your mic and cam against you. 24 hours surveillance of everyone eh?

Could they do it? They could install keyloggers in most electronic devices but that would not work against everyone and more then likely they would be caught. So they can do it but they would be caught out.

[Sith Lord 13]

Hoe easy do you think getting a warrent for something like that be? Because I would expect them to be absolutely sure before poking their nose into what is otherwise none of their business.

I'd expect it to be equally difficult to get this as to get a warrant for a phone tap.

[scuba steve]

To gain access to the camera would they not have to tinker with the hardware?

[JackShephard]

I don't really think they do that. Or this... My stepbrother's crazy mom thinks that there are mics installed in church towers, mosquitoes are engineered with helicopter technology to make it hard to detect when they land on you, and that our government has an alliance with aliens to trade human specimens for new technology. You have to remember that she grew up during the cold war so there was a lot of paranoia. haha

[KylieEatWorld]

Those who would sacrifice freedom for temporary security deserve neither freedom nor temporary security.

I'm sorry, but this:

IMO, I don't give a crap if they are doing that. It's not harming me. It's probably for the better if they are using it to track suspected terrorists and other threats.

Is the stupidest thing I have ever heard all week. How could you not care if strangers were peeking into your private life? The invasion of privacy and the control that the government would have in such a situation would be unbearable. I do not think that your phone, computer, or camera are tapped but I do think that people's assumptions that the government keeps absolutely no secrets, that no way in hell would they ever wrong you without a warrant, or that we're in capable hands is completely idiotic. When the "threat" of National Security comes into play the government can do as they please. Do not confuse what I am saying, I do not think that the government is "out to get" us in general but at any time a war, terrorist attack, disease, or natural disaster can occur and in the name of protection the government can and most likely will increase security and restrict freedoms.

What proof do I have of this? Do I have anything to back up my claims? You need only look at history and it's way of repeating itself to see that it can happen again. France sold Jewish citizens of their country to Germany during World War II to attempt save themselves from German invasion; France was a republic with a constitution not too unlike our own and the Soviet government's tweaking of communist theory to make it more a reformation of capitalism than a replacement. It is the nature of government to garner as much power as possible.

[The Ninja]

Good Lord some people are completely oblivious. Has anyone in here read "1984". In this book they have cameras that are like TVs in every friggin room in YOUR house. Most people in that society I'm sure thought this was completely wrong but they could never speak out because they were always being watched. If you were caught conspiring you were tortured, brain washed, and then killed. Allowing the government to do this would give them way to much control.

[anonymous.john]

It's important not to sacrifice your personal freedoms even if you have nothing to hide. Don't let the cops search you even if you don't have anything, make them show a warrant.

Also, the government can see through your phone cameras if you're on the right network, and they don't need a warrant under the Patriot Act (Anti-terrorism).

The government's not "out to get us," they just make bad decisions that leave holes open for abuse.

[FainAgain]

Do this test:

Set your phone as it is on top of a clock radio (turned on) you will hear lits oc clicking and noise and humming. That is your phone communicating with the data network. It is constant (if you have a smartphone that is, and you push notifications) Point being:your phone is in constant communication with your service provider.

Is it beyond the realm of possibility? NO

Is it constitutional? NO

[Sage]

Point being:your phone is in constant communication with your service provider.

How dare those service providers provide service! I can't believe this is happening!

[Amnesiac]

Is it constitutional? NO

The actions of a corporation that you have signed a legally binding contract with are in no way unconstitutional.

[JackShephard]

Well the way I see it, I don't mind being spied on. What if I where a pedo or a suspected terrorist? But I would have an issue if my house was raided, if I was arrested for no damn reason, if I where unrightfully interrogated. But what reason would that have to even happen to me? In any case, I'm not worried... Yet. Say I was taken as a test subject to find a cure to a biological weapon or something, then I would have an issue. (which is kinda plausible. Imagine if Al Qaida decided to retaliate with such a weapon)

But all in all, if there really are bugs in my phone, monitoring devices in my computer, cameras in my television, then oh well. I can't do anything about it because I wouldn't know about it anyway.