Emailing and texting have become a very popular way to communicate. They have also become a very important footprint left behind for police investigating crimes. There is a new saying, "Don't say anything in an email or text that you wouldn't want your mother to read." All emails and texts are forever memorialzed in time, even after DELETE.
The Detroit Free Press/News, http://www.freep.com/ ,used the Freedom of Information Act(FOIA) to obtain previously unknown text messages to aid in the conviction of former Detroit mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick. Without the cellphone records, that included phone calls and texts, Kilpatrick would not have been convicted of perjury.
Across the United States, individual States now passing legislation that will prohibit the use of a cellphone, or texting, while operating a motor vehicle. This has come as a result of the increase in car accidents while using a cellphone. In addition, the federal government has also passed the USA Patroit Act, which assists the FBI and CIA in the investigating of national security issues.
I think this goes along with the privacy topic. I don't know how private our information actually is, obviously not very because of things like the Kwame issue. It makes me feel safe in ways because the government can find out what's going on and pull up information from previous texts on any phone that have been deleted. I mean, in some cases like this one for example, it came in handy but if our own text messages are being shared with other people, it doesn't allow us a whole lot of privacy. I agree with the texting and driving act too because people are getting into accidents or even dying in some cases and if they can help save lives but having people not text, then great. People are still going to text though and it's not always obvious from the outside that they were doing that and I don't think it can be fully prevented.
ReplyDeleteE-mail's and text have really become a big risk for everyone. Like, even if you're not doing anything illegal, you still have to worry about other people knowing of your private conversations. Not a lot seems to be completely confidential anymore. The case held against Kwame was a great example. Before I gained more knowledge on the situation, I felt like they were really invading his privacy. However, in class we learned that it's ok according to the law. All in all, I feel there is some skepticism on the invasion of privacy.
ReplyDeleteI myself am a horrible person whom texts and drives. I know I shouldn't do it, but for myself, and others it has become such an important part of my life. I think it's crazy that things that we send basically don't disappear. It seems as if deleting texts are just to make more room on your phone. As I have gotten older I have really 'tried' to cut back on profane language via text and Twitter because I don't need anything coming up against me in the future.
ReplyDeleteI think that texting and driving is a very dangerous thing as well. It is crazy to think that you can't really get rid of anything that you send even after you delete it. Where is all the information kept?
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