government tracking

Touched by Technology Do you know who is tracking your movements when your turn on your cell phone, or what is being done with that information? These are questions that I recently had to ask myself after reading two insightful articles. The first was by Ronald Bailey called “Your Cellphone is Spying on You” and the other was by Terry J. Allen entitled “Reach Out and Track Someone”. In Ronald Bailey’s article, he explores the use of cellular phone tracking technology by law enforcement and their recent attempts to expand the surveillance laws to include more use of cell phones to track users’ movements without their knowledge. In addition he gives us some perspective on the idea of a big brother watching over us by examining what a future built on limited privacy expectations might look like. Allen gives us his personal perspective on tracking technology and explores abuses that might arise if we continue down the current path. Both of these articles have given me insight into the use of tracking technology and make me question both the moral and legal ramifications of sharing information related to personal movement. There is in fact a moral and legal balance that satisfies the need to protect the privacy of law abiding citizens, prosecute criminals, and protect family and friends through the use of cell phone tracking all at the same time, and the name we give to that solution is the constitution.
Ronald Bailey’s article seeks to explore more than just cell phone tracking technology. He delves in to the ideas surrounding the tracking of individuals both from a historical context and from people who are involved with the cell phone tracking issue today. Those sources are from both the government and private sector and each offers personal insights that might allow us to more thoughtfully determine which is more important, privacy or the prosecution of criminals.
Terry Allen’s article gives us a much stronger sense that cell phone tracking technology is

Cited: Allen, Terry J. “Reach Out and Track Someone.” The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing: Brief 6th ed. Ed. John D. Ramage. John C. Bean. and June Johnson. Boston: Pearson, 2012. Print. Bailey, Ronald. “Your Cellphone Is Spying on You.” Reason Jan. 2013: 33-39. Print.