Mobile Phone Tracking Scrutinized By Nikki Swartz Summary
I Know Your Twenty Cell phones have become the leading source of communication in the world. However, it is not just phone calls or e-mails anymore, someone might take down time to play angry birds or candy crush saga. If your cell phone is left on and completely unattended someone, knows your location. Over 200 million Americans who own a cell phone have been watched on a data base created by the cell phone company, keeping track of tower signals, recording conversations, and making copies of text messages and emails. Even the United States government has gone to the extent to using cell phone information when coming to court evidence and alibies. Parents are becoming technologically aware and are using tracking abilities to keep an eye on their children and their whereabouts. The question remains, where can you draw the line between
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privacy issues and safety? Nikki Swartz published an article called “Mobile Phone Tracking Scrutinized” in the Information Management Journal in March 2006.
The article Swartz wrote pointed out to many people that phone companies can track one’s cell phone by tower signals. Swartz also alerted citizens that the government could use similar methods to secretly monitor movements of suspects. The main idea of Swartz’s essay is that the prosecutors have not been successful in accessing court approval to gain evidence against suspects. Swartz quotes, “Prosecutors argue that having such data is crucial to finding suspects, corroborating their whereabouts with witness accounts, or helping build a case for a wiretap on the phone” (302). In the last paragraph of Swartz’s article she soothes people’s conscience by quoting, “[T]he stream of data that carries a telephone conversation or an e-mail message contains a great deal of information, including when and where the communications originated. And that makes it harder for courts to determine whether a certain digital surveillance method invokes Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches”
(303). Terry J. Allen cautioned people, that if they had a cell phone authorities could gain access to a person’s location. In her article “Reach Out and Track Someone” Allen warned Americans of a “lesser known fact: [c]ell phone companies can locate you at any time you are in range of a tower and your phone is on” (303). Over 200 million Americans own cell phones in the United States alone, yet numerous Americans are blind to being spied on. Allen also shows that the tracking of cell phones can be used in a useful way through 911 emergency tracking. However, she goes on to say, “It is likely that authorities are also accessing cellphone call records and conducting real-time tracing of hapless Palestinians…” (304). Phone records have been a big issue since the mass usage of telephone communication. Allen seems concerned to inform Americans about the use of cell phone tracking. Awareness seems to be the leading factor in the article “Reach Out and Track Someone”. Cell phone tracking is a huge debate when it comes to government usage all the way to awareness. Swartz and Allen have a similar basis when it comes to their articles; both authors are sharing knowledge of cell phone tracking. Each article has a way to inform Americans about the abilities of exposing one’s location. Cell phone usage leads to a huge change in American privacy. In conclusion, both authors display information on different perspectives of cell phone tracking. It has affected American lives by teaching them important details when it comes to cell phones. Americans becoming more aware of cell phone tracking will hopefully lead to better decision making. As an American I view cell phone tracking as a breach of privacy, and breaks the Amendment IV Privacy of the Person and Possessions. However, if it came to a life or death situation where medical attention is needed, I could see the positive in tracing a person’s cell phone. Sometimes tracking could save your life, or it could be the evidence against you.
Works Cited
Allen, Terry. “Reach Out and Track Someone.” The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing. 6th ed. Ed. John D. Ramage, John C. Bean, June Johnson. Boston: Longman, 2012. 303-04. Print.
Swartz, Nikki. “Mobile Phone Tracking Scrutinized.” The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing. 6th ed. Ed. John D. Ramage, John C. Bean, June Johnson. Boston: Longman, 2012. 303-04. Print.
privacy issues and safety? Nikki Swartz published an article called “Mobile Phone Tracking Scrutinized” in the Information Management Journal in March 2006.
The article Swartz wrote pointed out to many people that phone companies can track one’s cell phone by tower signals. Swartz also alerted citizens that the government could use similar methods to secretly monitor movements of suspects. The main idea of Swartz’s essay is that the prosecutors have not been successful in accessing court approval to gain evidence against suspects. Swartz quotes, “Prosecutors argue that having such data is crucial to finding suspects, corroborating their whereabouts with witness accounts, or helping build a case for a wiretap on the phone” (302). In the last paragraph of Swartz’s article she soothes people’s conscience by quoting, “[T]he stream of data that carries a telephone conversation or an e-mail message contains a great deal of information, including when and where the communications originated. And that makes it harder for courts to determine whether a certain digital surveillance method invokes Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches”
(303). Terry J. Allen cautioned people, that if they had a cell phone authorities could gain access to a person’s location. In her article “Reach Out and Track Someone” Allen warned Americans of a “lesser known fact: [c]ell phone companies can locate you at any time you are in range of a tower and your phone is on” (303). Over 200 million Americans own cell phones in the United States alone, yet numerous Americans are blind to being spied on. Allen also shows that the tracking of cell phones can be used in a useful way through 911 emergency tracking. However, she goes on to say, “It is likely that authorities are also accessing cellphone call records and conducting real-time tracing of hapless Palestinians…” (304). Phone records have been a big issue since the mass usage of telephone communication. Allen seems concerned to inform Americans about the use of cell phone tracking. Awareness seems to be the leading factor in the article “Reach Out and Track Someone”. Cell phone tracking is a huge debate when it comes to government usage all the way to awareness. Swartz and Allen have a similar basis when it comes to their articles; both authors are sharing knowledge of cell phone tracking. Each article has a way to inform Americans about the abilities of exposing one’s location. Cell phone usage leads to a huge change in American privacy. In conclusion, both authors display information on different perspectives of cell phone tracking. It has affected American lives by teaching them important details when it comes to cell phones. Americans becoming more aware of cell phone tracking will hopefully lead to better decision making. As an American I view cell phone tracking as a breach of privacy, and breaks the Amendment IV Privacy of the Person and Possessions. However, if it came to a life or death situation where medical attention is needed, I could see the positive in tracing a person’s cell phone. Sometimes tracking could save your life, or it could be the evidence against you.
Works Cited
Allen, Terry. “Reach Out and Track Someone.” The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing. 6th ed. Ed. John D. Ramage, John C. Bean, June Johnson. Boston: Longman, 2012. 303-04. Print.
Swartz, Nikki. “Mobile Phone Tracking Scrutinized.” The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing. 6th ed. Ed. John D. Ramage, John C. Bean, June Johnson. Boston: Longman, 2012. 303-04. Print.