By Rick Kelo
1. DNA The US Supreme Court ruled that certain types of law enforcement agencies can now collect your DNA when you are arrested. Their rationale: DNA functions identically to a fingerprint in that it can be used by police to verify the identity of the person in custody. Here's a summary of their ruling: (Source: WSJ, June, 3, 2013).
Of course DNA samples are not used to verify the identity of the person in custody. It is collected and put into police databases to solve cold cases. To examine someone for a crime to which there is no probable cause to suspect them. And many police jurisdictions keep all DNA samples on file forever. So when your home is broken into, and the police collect DNA off the door handle the burglar opened the door with they will ask you for your DNA so they can isolate the homeowner and figure out which DNA is the robber. And once they have your DNA into the cold case databases it goes.... forever.
Now consider that African Americans are far more likely to be arrested than any other group in this country. NOT CONVICTED OF A CRIME, this is an important distinction to make. You can commit no crime and still be arrested. For this reason it is illegal for a potential employer to ask you in an interview about your arrest record, only about crimes of which you were convicted.
2. Phone Call Logging & Email CollectionThis one is widely known, but important to consider for a reason you have not yet heard.... point #3
Edward Snowden, a name that needs no introduction, recently gave us the revelation that all your cell phone calls are being logged. He followed that revelation in short order with another leak about the collection of email traffic, under a law which is supposed to be restricted to non-Americans, that was in fact being used to indiscriminately capture the emails of a great many American citizens too.
3. Text Message Collection & LoggingThese revelations led many to wonder about the next logical conclusion: were your text messages also being monitored? The Obama Administration immediately responded to a Freedom of Information request no this topic with the following 15 page document:
“Guidance for the Minimization of Text Messages over Dual-Function Cellular Telephones” by US Justice DepartmentA shocking, and insightful report that makes all of us much more comfortable.... thank you Obama Administration.
4. License Plate Collection & Logging
So in what other ways has the technology of the digital age been implemented in an abusive fashion by the government? As I discussed here: "You Are Being Tracked!" police jurisdictions across America are employing license plate readers. In some cities like Manhattan & DC they are everywhere mounted to buildings, traffic signals, etc. And their data is retained... forever. (Well some states like New Jersey restrict how long it can be retained to only a modest 5 years worth of information).
So in what other ways has the technology of the digital age been implemented in an abusive fashion by the government? As I discussed here: "You Are Being Tracked!" police jurisdictions across America are employing license plate readers. In some cities like Manhattan & DC they are everywhere mounted to buildings, traffic signals, etc. And their data is retained... forever. (Well some states like New Jersey restrict how long it can be retained to only a modest 5 years worth of information).
5. Implications
These are programs we know about. We know very, very little about them except that they exist and that there is an incredible potential for abuse. Data mining. Data collection. A series of programs that can be complied to create a shockingly comprehensive picture of you. And most of these things collected by a government you cannot challenge, where you have no rights to object, approved by secret courts in which only one side of the issue is presented before a secret judge.
These are programs we know about. We know very, very little about them except that they exist and that there is an incredible potential for abuse. Data mining. Data collection. A series of programs that can be complied to create a shockingly comprehensive picture of you. And most of these things collected by a government you cannot challenge, where you have no rights to object, approved by secret courts in which only one side of the issue is presented before a secret judge.
The question every person must consider is how we re-establish civil liberties in a digital age.