Posted on 11/21/2012 3:59:31 AM PST by LD Jackson
Privacy is a hot topic, especially among netsec (Network Security) circles.
It's 2012. Most of your bills probably get delivered via email. You communicate with family using email. It's nearly completely replaced "snail mail" in my generation. Snail mail is protected by law; that simple paper envelope with a tacky strip keeping it closed protects any document you want to send. Federal law clearly marks First Class mail as protected; it cannot be opened without a clear warrant. Gaining a warrant requires someone to actually have a very good reason for gaining access, so that protects most communication.
Cut-away to email. Our federal laws simply aren't cut out to protect us online. I'm not a proponent of regulation, but quite frankly, we don't have any protection FROM the government, let alone from malicious attackers.
Right now, the only way I can ensure that my data is protected properly by law is to store it locally. I have to personally own and store the equipment, and once I send it to someone else, I lose my rights to that information. This means that my emails, chat records, documents, reciepts, etc, are all accessible to demands from the government, or in the hands of less reputable providers, the highest bidder.
There are a few communications protections in place, but most of them are old and don't fit modern changes. I was excited to see legislation going through that would give my online information the same protection as any offline... But my excitement was shortlived.
Democrat Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee changed the legislation being prepared due to law enforcement needs. As it stands, 22 agencies would have real authority to access your online information. This means your email is open to them. This means documents you store on Google Docs. This means facebook wall posts, protected tweets, etc are all available to any of these agencies... Without them requiring a warrant proving they have gone through proper channels to gain access to PRIVATE information. (more information on the bill here)
This bill won't protect American citizens, but it's going to do a great job of eroding even more of our freedoms and handing them over to the federal government and our law enforcement agencies.
Now, isn't it about time we realized what's going on? Liberal culture has done a wonderful job of convincing an influential majority of our nation that we need more government oversight to live peacefully, not less.
Instead of getting out of the lives of our citizens, I see this federal government growing more and more intent on gaining access to anything they want... and it's everything. It astounds me that none of the liberal followers are getting wise to this simple fact: We're heading toward a totalitarian state.
It's not just the Democratic party; Republicans are guilty of this too. I know that there are committed and authentic individuals in both parties, but the majority of decisions being reached are not in American citizens' best interest.
I'm going to challenge you to speak up to your representatives in state and federal legislatures. Hold them accountable, and let them know when they stray from their stated goals in office.
I'm going to challenge you to make your voice heard among your friends. Don't just spew opinions and fear; get your circles to start THINKING about what's going on.
The only way we can slow America's downhill slide is to switch auto-pilot off and help others to do the same. Campaign for those who represent YOU. Get rid of those politicians who don't.
The Republican Reps need to hear from us and politely "reminded" their votes will be remembered come 2014.
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