Big B is watching

Big Brother is watching!!!, even thought we are not in this famous show in this particular case Big B refers to the goverment and some companies around the world. Goverment and Companies declare its for our good and security, it is suppose to make our lives easier which its not a bad idea at all but here is the thing- Big Brother is watching, this means that they will have acces to your personal information when ever they wanted and look at everything, from e-mails to phone calls and even using your laptop camera to watch you.This way it would be easier to recognize everyone and frauds would be less commun.They will be able to find someone no matter where they are, throught phone calls, e-mails or by identifying you through: your pupil, voice or face scaning.

The Goverment possition is " if you don´t commite crimes, if you are not a drug dealer, then what do you have to hide?; but until what point is it acceptable?; Wouldn´t it be attempting to your privacy and freedom?.

Maybe it would be a good idea if they were only aloud to do this with certain people, like people that have commited a crime, or are under investigations.But even then we wouldn´t be sure that this information couldn´t end in the wrong hands, and if this happens the security system would have failed and our privacy wouldn´t be a private thing any more.

City surveillance: Crime deterrent or invasion of privacy?

The governments say they are doing all of this for our safety, but I don't think that way. They say is easier to caught people who commit crimes thanks to all this surveillance devices. That is okay as long as is for solving crimes only but now individual citizens are also having their privacy invaded in the work place by employers who utilize surveillance cameras and computer software programs to monitor their employees and forcing their workers to sign waivers of their expectations of privacy.

Today the right of privacy is also coming to the forefront as more and more employers operate surveillance systems in areas in which their employees have a reasonable expectation of privacy. In an effort to prevent theft, sexual harassment, the viewing of pornography on office computers and the perpetration of actionable civil or criminal acts, employers are in many instances intruding on and invading the privacy of their employees. Employers are using hidden cameras, workplace searches, keystroke monitoring computer programs, e-mail, website and voice mail monitoring, and other software to snoop on their employees while cloaking themselves with the claim that their actions are being done to protect their employees.

Also the government of Mexico is saying that we have to register our cellphones numbers for our own security. They are sending helicopters very near to the ground of cities, you know why?, because the helicopters have a special device that can hear or intercept the call made on telephones and cellphones to be able to track persons involved with the narcs. But the government doesn't have the right to hear and intercept our calls. In Mexico D.F. police officers can enter your house without an order if they want to with the pretext that is for looking narcs. If we don't stop this right now you is going to stop the government of controlling our every action. I rather be free and be insecure but with hopes of a better future than being a prisoner in my own house knowing that I can't do anything about it.

Technology against Privacy

Today’s technologies allow us to be communicated all the time. Social networks like Facebook keep us informed of what all our friends do. For example, where they live, who they hang out with, what they like, who they are dating, and their personality. Also when we use this type of networks we show the world everything we do, even if we rather keep some things to ourselves.

Facebook, Twitter and MySpace are a platform to express yourself and who you are. Sometimes because of the overuse of these, we may find ourselves without a private life. Everyone, no matter if he or she is a stranger, can access our information and know everything about of lives. Publishing every single thing we do, includes a big risk for our safety. Today, there are a lot of kidnappers that look up for girls or for anyone on Facebook and study their lives in order to kidnap them. We should be very care and think twice before we publish a photo or information about us because we don’t know who might see it. Even though, we think only our friends will look at what we do, there are hackers that can access the network.

This type of technologies recently developed is a “double-edged sword”. For example certain GPS that can track you down in a matter of seconds, or cameras on the streets, chips or sensors that know what you are doing and where you at every second. The use of all these “helpful” technology attacks our privacy. I remember we discussed in class a book called Nineteen Eighty Four. In this book, there was Big Brother watching everyone 24/7. It was a futuristic book, but today we are really close to that world. I think this is also a global issue because in the future we will need to create new systems to protect our privacy and our information.

Privacy vs. Security

Personal Reflection, Class Article.

In class a team read an article about privacy vs. security, and we clearly saw that we could make a debate out of it.

Whenever there have been national emergencies, the rights and civil liberties of the public have been curtailed, and in many instances revoked completely. As technology has grown in leaps and bounds over the last three decades, it has also brought with it new challenges to protecting people's privacy and curbing privacy violations. In general, the public feels an increased sense of intrusion and loss of privacy. The new proposed measures by governments impact privacy and civil liberties.

For instance, The United Kingdom is the most controlled city in the world. They most probably catch criminals quickly, but innocent people are also watch over and followed. But precisely that is what means security; the degree of protection against danger, loss, and criminals. Security must take into account the actions of people attempting to cause destruction.

In my opinion, security is more important than privacy, is preferable to take some time in a register in an airport where they make you an extensive check, instead of living a terrorist attack that might get you into a difficult situation or even death. I think there are more benefits from security than the liberties and privacy ones.

Some of the benefits I am talking about are:

ü Reduces obvious threats and risks.

ü Can prove a deterrent

ü Can increase public safety by making identification of thousands of criminals and other offenders easier

ü Could reveal plans of suspects proactively to provide advance warning

ü Better background checks before entering the country reduces chances of threat

The proposed increases in security measures may be beneficial for the common good if it implemented in an impartial way throughout the community, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic group. Accountability and transparency in law enforcement procedures, especially concerning privacy issues must still be preserved, despite recent attacks. The judicial system must be empowered to deal effectively with any abuses of proposed security measures to protect the constitutional rights and liberties of all citizens. It should also ensure that anyone accused has adequate legal representation and a fair chance to prove their innocence, even under these circumstances. Ensure that the current atmosphere of rich ethnic and cultural diversity of the country living in peace with one another is not compromised. In one approach suggested by Mr. Etzioni, an expert on privacy-related issues, an optimal balance between personal privacy and the community good must be achieved, with both being given due importance.

However, privacy could be limited when it is in the interests of the common good, especially in areas of public safety and public health. The decision-making process could involve asking the following questions:

· Is this a real, tangible problem that we are facing?

· If it is, can we handle it without impacting/violating privacy at all?

· If not, can we handle it by making it as less intrusive as possible?

Any of you has another opinion?

Technology is invading personal life

In the recent years technological advances have improved, and people are creating new devices. This can have many benefits in your life because it can help you to live better or to make a job easier. But if people create things “to keep track on you”, it can become annoying and unsecure. As in the reading from class “Big brother is watching: The technologies that keep track of you”, more cameras, chips for identification, or sensors are being placed in products.

I think that with this technologies the people’s life can be published anywhere, or the owners can know information about your personal life. For example, in the article said that the owners of a company could read or see how many mails you send. I consider this wrong, because people must respect the privacy, and it is not correct that just because they want to see the employers’ activities and have control of them, they do it. Also this is wrong because any person (bad people) can get the chips and stalk you, and make bad use of the information they gather. I think technology should only be used on the necessary things.