Response
I feel like it’s just right to have this kind of “security.” This is about safety, and it’s actually up to the people what kind of information they will give. It’s the people’s safety that’s at stake here, like what happened in Vegas. They even thought about cancelling the celebration of New Year’s Eve. Plus, we wouldn’t want another 9/11. It wouldn’t kill us if they would use our information. It wouldn’t hurt, except for identity theft.
Like what the woman said in Chapter 5, she felt like it’s not fair for the government to check on her files just because she’s in Vegas celebrating New Year’s Eve. It’s her choice to go there, and I feel like it’s comparable to “terms and conditions.” If you don’t want to accept it, then, you can’t use it. Other people can’t sacrifice their safety just because other people don’t feel like giving out their information.
5 responses so far
But think about this, how much is too much information that the government holds? Just cause they have the right idea in mind it does not mean they know how to implement it. If the information is no longer needed do they simply scrap it or do they save it for other use that they never explicitly tell you, just a little thought.
Yes you are right this type of Security is needed, no doubt about it. And To Christopher… What’s the difference of who has your data and who doesn’t? Your Cell Phone Provider has all your info from your phone, Your internet provider has all the details of your internet activity, Your credit card company/credit agencies has all that info, airlines, hotels, etc, they all have your records… If the government wants to combine and store all that data themselves what’s the difference? You agree to own these things and use these things with the knowledge that the information has to be getting passed through a 3rd party, so its already not “private.” To me its no big deal, in terms of that stuff because in reality there’s no way they have the man-power or the time to look at everyone so there has to be Major Filters used to narrow it down or it would be like giving a man a spoon and telling him to dig a hole to the other side of the earth. And in terms of other Security measures such as Cameras everywhere, its their property they have the right to put cameras up, just like we have the right to put cameras on our homes.
It’s basically like your having a party and your friend hears that someone is bringing a gun in, do you cancel the party? or do you put metal detectors in and make all your guests walk through it ?
I totally agree, I am not necessary worried on the information they have on me. After all, I do not commit crimes and I am not trying to run away or hide. So I actually don’t mind instances like Las Vegas.
One the other hand, there are consequences to this. One, the information may be false and we are wrongfully accused. Two, I have no knowledge of this and was not able to consent. Three, this can be a path to a violation of human rights. What will be next?
But yes, I want to continue my life not fearing about attacks, and no, I don’t mind if they have my information. But why not ask for it?
They simply can’t because it does violate our rights.
So, there needs to be a better solution.
Excellent points all around. I certainly understand the desire to protect people against potential threats (especially when you contrast the information that is being asked against the lives at stake). However, I believe that the questions Narea asks are worth examining and perhaps think about ways to balance the two concerns more effectively.
Think about the video we watched in class about the no-fly list where it appeared that the list that was created to make flying safer ended up having unexpected consequences. Perhaps, it made flying safer (I do not know for sure). But, the question to ask is could it have been implemented better. I think that the answer is a categorical yes. I believe that some privacy may have to be sacrificed, but we need to hold the government accountable and ensure that there is some oversight. Please take a look at the interesting post by James Fallows on “If TSA were running New York” at: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/if-the-tsa-were-running-new-york/39839/
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