Cell Phones and Privacy

Society today has made cell phones something a person cannot live without.  The younger generation was born into this technology and baby boomers have adapted it into their lives.  Gone are the days of searching for information in the library or using a telephone book to find a phone number, also gone is stopping by a friend’s house to see if they are home.  Banking is done on-line; you can buy groceries, clothes, and cars, just about anything can be purchased online now.  You can use your phone as a GPS to get where you are going, play games alone or with friends, and take pictures and videos. Although technology has afforded us to conveniently simplify daily tasks and do what were unimaginable decades ago, it has also caused a big concern in how dependent society has become on this new technology.  Everyone wants the newest, latest, and greatest products which are being produced faster than ever.  What users are not aware of is how the laws protecting their privacy have not changed to keep up with technology.  There are companies, and even the government, that are using the lack of laws to infringe on citizens’ privacy.  New technology has aided government and law enforcement officials in tracking down criminals and terrorists, yet our government is dragging its feet in approving new laws created to protect American citizens who shouldn’t have to sacrifice their privacy to use new technology.  The current laws created to protect the privacy of American citizens are outdated and need to be addressed or amended to reflect today’s new technology.
Posted by Jeff Trangsrud