Invasion of Privacy Through Cell Phones

Composition II with A. Novinger 08/08/2011

Invasion of Privacy Through Cell Phones

         Cell phones have provided a huge convenience to many people over the world. Just from 2006 to 2008 the percentage of cell phone owners in the United States jumped from 77% to 89% (Cellular-News, 2008). The increase in cell phone usage in the U.S. has increased the government's availability to access our private lives. After the devastation of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the government has devised multiple tactics to micro-manage its citizens through the use of technology such as the cell phone. The technological advancements of the cell phone, the internet, and their respective providers has provided legally unprotected ground for consumers. Through carefully hidden privacy policies many companies have protected themselves by not so obviously disclosing that they'll be spying on their customers. From email services storing our private messages to the president of the United States screening our calls it seems that our privacy isn't as secure as we once thought it was.

         In 2006, it was discovered that the Bush administration was eavesdropping on cell phone calls within the U.S. Several attempts to stop the eavesdropping by the government have failed. It was taken to the Supreme Court in 2008, and that became the second court to throw out the case. President Bush had been quoted previously as saying he would continue eavesdropping U.S. calls regardless of the outcome of court rulings. Cell phone companies have actually been provided with immunity to work with the government in this endeavor (ACLU.org, 2009).

          Within the terms and conditions of many cell phone companies they state that they reserve the right to track their customer's activity. Of the privacy policies reviewed, AT&T is the only copmany that clearly states their reasons for monitoring activity; they have a promise to their consumers to avoid confusing legal language (AT&T, 2011). Sprint and other companies simply state that they have the right to monitor, track, and store all activity on any device they sell (Sprint, 2011). Many companies hide behind legal vocabulary to avoid the conflict of explaining what they are really doing. Many of these companies are legally protected by stating in this legal language what their intentions are although most of their consumers will never read nor understand it.

          Companies other than cell phone providers are also invading the privacy of consumers. Google and all affiliated products are covered by widely controversial privacy policies (Google,  2010). Within the policy of Google they reserve the right, just as many cell phone providers do, to monitor activity conducted using their services. These companies are storing information and have admitted to disclosing it to the government. All of the aforementioned companies are invading our constitutional rights of free speech and can also be considered an invasion of our 4th Amendment rights against illegal search and seizure.

          Although AT&T can, for the most part, be trusted while many other companies cannot, sprint and Google clearly state their intentions for monitoring and storing our private activity. The United States government has offered immunity to these companies as long as they are willing to work with their less than ethical practice of monitoring that activity of the U.S. population. It can be clearly stated that the effect of the increase of cell phone usage has allowed cell phone companies and other companies to work with the U.S. government to invade our privacy.

Sources:

ACLU. (2009). http://www.aclu.org/print/national-security/aclu-v-nsa-challenge-illegal-spying

AT&T. (2011). AT&T privacy policy.
          http://www.att.com/gen/privacy-policy?pid-2506

Cellular-News.com. (2008). Cell Phone Usage Continues to Increase in the USA.
          http://www.cellular-news.com/story/30323.php

Google.com (2010). Google privacy policy.
         http://www.google.com/intl/en/privacy-policy.html

Sprint. (2011). Sprint privacy policy.
          http://www.sprint.com/legal/privacy.html?INTNAV=ATG:FT:Privacy