Most likely, you’ve gone on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or some type of social media today. Think of all the information you put out into
cyberspace: credit cards for shopping, personal information for online banking,
and loads of information from email and other messaging. Since the dawn of the personal computer,
society has gotten more and more connected.
Most people share their day-to-day activities with more people online
than those they interact with in reality.
As our lives and personal information become more and more intertwined
with the Internet, questions start to arise over privacy rights. The capability to find any information in
cyberspace is out there, but who should be allowed access this information and
at what times? This Wednesday during
class, we watched Enemy of the State,
where these privacy questions are explored.
http://pixshark.com/enemy-of-the-state-dvd.htm
In the movie, the leader of the National Security Agency (NSA) Thomas Brian Reynolds wants to pass a bill, and he kills a politician who has the
ability to stop the bill from passing.
In order to cover up his wrongdoing, Reynolds uses all his powers, from
satellites and trackers to online hacking in order to cover up his tracks,
killing numerous people and smearing the name of a prominent lawyer. In the end, the truth is exposed, but the
question of personal security remains, summed up in the movie quote by Larry King: “How do we draw the line—draw the line
between protection of national security, obviously the government's need to
obtain intelligence data, and the protection of civil liberties, particularly
the sanctity of my home? You've got no right to come into my home!” In the movie there is dispute over the use of
satellites to spy on individuals, but in current events drones have started to
raise alarm over privacy issues. Unlike
satellites that have to continually be in one orbit, drones are able to hover
over one spot and travel any way the controller wishes, making them a
potentially much more efficient and useful tool for spying.
A commercial drone and a drone used by the US Army
http://jurist.org/feature/featured/drones/
http://dronesafetycouncil.com/
The United States has placed strict rules on
drone use, but other countries of the world are much more relaxed. Are drones a hazard to public safety, or has
the danger been over-dramatized? The
opinions on this matter run the gambit, but I believe it’s important to know
the regulations concerning drones before deciding if they pose a threat or
not. In order to fly a drone, the user
must get a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization from the Federal Aviation
Administration. UAVs for recreational
purposes are only allowed to fly below 400 feet and must remain within
eyesight. In the government, drones are
only officially able to fly in a certain areas.
The question remains, how are these strictures enforced? As history has shown, tremendous power can
lead to tremendous corruption. In order
to keep protect personal privacy, we have to make sure we keep those that hold
great power in the future in check.
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