I think Luckovich’s point is that if you read the terms of service on your cell phone, game system, or any piece of software you buy, you have already given up your rights to privacy. The government is just one more entity that has access to the information. In my work, I have three laptops (one each owned by AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) that contain a program that will give me the physical location of any cell phone. I use it to test the E-911 systems we set up around the country. The purpose is that in an emergency, you can be found by police or rescuers by dialing 911 without even speaking into the phone. You agreed to this service by buying a cell phone. The government can use this simply because it exists, and the Patriot Act specifically enables it to access this technology. That is also listed in your terms of service. Is it right or wrong? Your opinion. Is Luckovich correct? Yes. You did sign off all privacy rights. If you did not speak out against GWB and Congress when the Patriot Act was drafted and passed, don’t complain now. If you did, I salute you, brother, and stand with you in continuing to pressure for its full repeal by Obama.
BTW, I should let you know (as a telecommunications engineer), that location services only refer to a GPS connection or an advertisement app. What the government and emergency services use is the basic function of the phone. As long as the phone is powered on, it is transmitting a signal every 5 seconds (every 1/8th of a second during a conversation) to connect to the three nearest cell towers or switch stations, which triangulates the phone’s location to within 10 feet. This is so that the phone can receive a call, and so that the call can be handed off to the nearest antenna while you are moving with it. None of that has anything to do with your “location services” option. The phone won’t work without them. If I were to abuse my work privileges, should you post your phone number I could give you an exact location of where you are right now using the software on one of the laptops in the next room (please don’t – for many reasons).So essentially, the government does not need your permission to find you – the Patriot Act is that permission right now. Even without it, if you were to be served a federal warrant, they could do the same. I do assist local and federal law enforcement agencies in tracking criminals as part of my job, but I can only do so if a warrant has been served.
It would pay to note the roles of both Cheney and Rumsfeld in very early encroachment on our rights for “security” purposes, violating laws first, then cheering for “Patriot Act” (which I spoke out and WROTE my representatives to vote against!).
I was in law enforcement when the “Miranda decision” came in, and we had to start reading folks their rights. We still managed to get many confessions, or details of crimes when “bad guys” waived their rights, or even after they had lawyers to represent them. The difference is the "Patriot Act’ goes after GOOD GUYS as well. THAT is where it should have been called unconstitutional in the first round of court decisions, period.
BTW, as to cell phone towers and “tracking accuracy”. Folks are still getting lost and NOT found because in some areas signals can still be “misread” and prevent totally accurate locations of the phones. GPS of course, much more accurate, but my phone doesn’t have it.
Part of the reason for your poor triangulation is your phone is really only reflecting your carrier’s towers, not necessarily all available towers. The E911 system uses every tower in an area to increase accuracy. This is also why you can dial 911 without having service on your phone. So yes, it is more accurate for me or my colleagues as well as the authorities to track a phone. However, having worked in several southwestern cities, there is the issue of the outskirts only being covered by one or two towers due to real estate issues. As you get further from town, tower coverage is sparser, and triangulation less accurate. A lot of land surrounding the cities of New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada are protected or are property of a reservation, and therefore most carriers find it too expensive to build towers there.
Believe it or not, that is the exact problem we are having at the corporate level. The execs are so intent on preserving the status quo almost nothing is getting done. 2 years ago, I was getting 4G coverage in Finland 50 miles above the Arctic Circle, but still have no 4G in Maine. One of the big providers I worked for had actually decided not to use 3G technology when it first became available, but instead bought more 2G switches because they had a previous relationship with the vendor. When the first iPhone came out, it nearly killed them, and it took several years to recover. We are very far behind Europe and Asia in telecommunications technology and coverage because our corporate culture has adopted the bureaucracy of communism – a small group making decisions based only on preservation, and management below them fighting for limited resources, while the baseline workers (engineers) have to settle for less pay every year to do the same work. I made more money in “socialist” Europe, but my visa expired, so I’m back here.
William Bednar Premium Member almost 11 years ago
The shock occurs when the video goes viral!
goweeder almost 11 years ago
What is your problem?
lonecat almost 11 years ago
Turn around, Ice Hole.
Fourcrows almost 11 years ago
I think Luckovich’s point is that if you read the terms of service on your cell phone, game system, or any piece of software you buy, you have already given up your rights to privacy. The government is just one more entity that has access to the information. In my work, I have three laptops (one each owned by AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) that contain a program that will give me the physical location of any cell phone. I use it to test the E-911 systems we set up around the country. The purpose is that in an emergency, you can be found by police or rescuers by dialing 911 without even speaking into the phone. You agreed to this service by buying a cell phone. The government can use this simply because it exists, and the Patriot Act specifically enables it to access this technology. That is also listed in your terms of service. Is it right or wrong? Your opinion. Is Luckovich correct? Yes. You did sign off all privacy rights. If you did not speak out against GWB and Congress when the Patriot Act was drafted and passed, don’t complain now. If you did, I salute you, brother, and stand with you in continuing to pressure for its full repeal by Obama.
chromosome Premium Member almost 11 years ago
I’m surprised the people aren’t facing the other way and bent over.
pam Miner almost 11 years ago
so many people want to tell their whole life story on Face book anyway they might as well be doing what they are here!
Fourcrows almost 11 years ago
You’re welcome.
BTW, I should let you know (as a telecommunications engineer), that location services only refer to a GPS connection or an advertisement app. What the government and emergency services use is the basic function of the phone. As long as the phone is powered on, it is transmitting a signal every 5 seconds (every 1/8th of a second during a conversation) to connect to the three nearest cell towers or switch stations, which triangulates the phone’s location to within 10 feet. This is so that the phone can receive a call, and so that the call can be handed off to the nearest antenna while you are moving with it. None of that has anything to do with your “location services” option. The phone won’t work without them. If I were to abuse my work privileges, should you post your phone number I could give you an exact location of where you are right now using the software on one of the laptops in the next room (please don’t – for many reasons).So essentially, the government does not need your permission to find you – the Patriot Act is that permission right now. Even without it, if you were to be served a federal warrant, they could do the same. I do assist local and federal law enforcement agencies in tracking criminals as part of my job, but I can only do so if a warrant has been served.
Sleep tight!
Hawthorne almost 11 years ago
" …will Luckovich write a cartoon about how it’s all your fault that my bat is broken?
Isn’t that his point ..? I thought it was.
Dtroutma almost 11 years ago
It would pay to note the roles of both Cheney and Rumsfeld in very early encroachment on our rights for “security” purposes, violating laws first, then cheering for “Patriot Act” (which I spoke out and WROTE my representatives to vote against!).
I was in law enforcement when the “Miranda decision” came in, and we had to start reading folks their rights. We still managed to get many confessions, or details of crimes when “bad guys” waived their rights, or even after they had lawyers to represent them. The difference is the "Patriot Act’ goes after GOOD GUYS as well. THAT is where it should have been called unconstitutional in the first round of court decisions, period.
BTW, as to cell phone towers and “tracking accuracy”. Folks are still getting lost and NOT found because in some areas signals can still be “misread” and prevent totally accurate locations of the phones. GPS of course, much more accurate, but my phone doesn’t have it.
Fourcrows almost 11 years ago
Part of the reason for your poor triangulation is your phone is really only reflecting your carrier’s towers, not necessarily all available towers. The E911 system uses every tower in an area to increase accuracy. This is also why you can dial 911 without having service on your phone. So yes, it is more accurate for me or my colleagues as well as the authorities to track a phone. However, having worked in several southwestern cities, there is the issue of the outskirts only being covered by one or two towers due to real estate issues. As you get further from town, tower coverage is sparser, and triangulation less accurate. A lot of land surrounding the cities of New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada are protected or are property of a reservation, and therefore most carriers find it too expensive to build towers there.
Fourcrows almost 11 years ago
Believe it or not, that is the exact problem we are having at the corporate level. The execs are so intent on preserving the status quo almost nothing is getting done. 2 years ago, I was getting 4G coverage in Finland 50 miles above the Arctic Circle, but still have no 4G in Maine. One of the big providers I worked for had actually decided not to use 3G technology when it first became available, but instead bought more 2G switches because they had a previous relationship with the vendor. When the first iPhone came out, it nearly killed them, and it took several years to recover. We are very far behind Europe and Asia in telecommunications technology and coverage because our corporate culture has adopted the bureaucracy of communism – a small group making decisions based only on preservation, and management below them fighting for limited resources, while the baseline workers (engineers) have to settle for less pay every year to do the same work. I made more money in “socialist” Europe, but my visa expired, so I’m back here.