Privacy 2.0: Security v.s. Privacy

Privacy 2.0

Security v.s. Privacy

Today's post is in regards to the United States of Secrets video that is on pbs.org's Frontline that aired in May of 2014. To sum of the nearly three hour long video, is basically how the United States Government created "The Program" that allowed them to spy on American citizens. The interviews conducted in this video go back and forth between those that are saying that this is unconstitutional, unethical, unlawful, illegal, and a felony. Compared to those who support, justify, acknowledge, help, aid, and reinforce what the US Government is doing is legal.

After the tragedy of 9-11, General Hayden along with President Bush implemented "The Program". By the summer of 2002 "The Program" was fully operational. Numerous individuals tried to point out the fact that it was illegal to listen in on Americans without a valid search warrant. No one seemed to care what these individuals had to say. One individual by the name of Thomas Tamm even contacted the New York Times anonymously. Soon after notifications, President Bush threatened the New York Times. President Bush told them that if this information was leaked to the American citizens, that the next terrorist act would be on their hands. Regardless of the threat, the NY Times ran the story anyway. President Bush responded by holding a press conference and minimized the information, and down-playing what the "Program" was doing. Vice President Cheney was outraged and demanded that the FBI find the individuals responsible for the leak of information, and that they be punished. This investigation continued over the next several months, and was coming close to the end of President Bush's administration.

With Bush's administration nearing it's end, and with the knowledge of what the government was doing, Obama claimed to put an end to the secrecy during his campaign. Because of this President Bush convinced congress in July of 2008 to pass the FISA Law. Obama was one of the individuals who voted to keep the Surveillance Bill. After winning the election, President Obama was briefed on "The Program" in it's entirety and chose to keep the program. He approved to keep it, despite his promises to demolish the secrecy. President Obama also down-played what information the government had access to on several occasions.

In 2009, Edward Snowden, a National Security Association (NSA) contractor leaked to the world millions of records, and documentation that the government was collecting on ordinary citizens. With the information that Snowden had given the press showed that Verizon along with nine internet companies were supplying private information of millions of American citizens. Content from audio, photographs, e-mails, videos, and documents were being scanned by the government. President Obama again tried to down-play the severity of the governments actions by claiming that they were scanning for terrorist activity. He did this by stumbling over his words. With the information that came out Google claimed that they had given the government access to secure data and had no idea that the government was gaining access to all of Google's data. Google also claims that they have made it more difficult for the government to continue this type of activity.

I had a difficult time watching these interviews, listening to how the government seems to have gotten away with what they have done. Yet, they are punishing those individuals that are bringing this information to light. I feel that as citizens we have a right to know that the government is invading our privacy. It is interesting to me that the government uses the excuse, and reasoning for this is all in the name of security. There has to be a better way, a way that does not take away my right to privacy. I also feel that the government should be held accountable for breaking the law. They need to uphold the constitution and protect the American citizens. The government needs to reread the Preamble to the Constitution and abide by it.

We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

After watching this video on Frontline, I decided to "Google" how to protect my privacy. I thought that I was doing a pretty good job in doing this already, but realized that there are several more options to increase my level of privacy. In an article by Forbes Magazine, they give several ways to protect yourself, as well as and article by Time Magazine. Here is a list that combines both articles suggestions into one.

Privacy Protection:

1. Password protect your devices: your smart phone, your ipad, your computer, your tablet, etc...

2. Put a Google alert on your name.

3. Sign out of Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, etc. when you're done with your emailing, social networking, tweeting, and other forms of time-wasting.

4. Don't give out your e-mail, address, phone number, or zip code when asked.

5. Encrypt your computer.

6. Gmailers, turn on 2-step authentication in Gmail.

7. Pay in cash for embarrassing items.

8. Change your Facebook settings to "Friends Only".

9. Clear your browser history and cookies on a regular basis.

10. Use an IP Masker.

11. Don't fill out your social media profile.

12. Be choosy about sharing your social security number - even the last 4 digits.

13. Lock down your hardware.

14. Turn on private browsing.

15. Use a password vault that generates and remembers strong and unique passwords.

16. Lie when setting up password security questions.

Forbes magazine indicates that by just adding passwords is one of the simplest ways to protect and individuals privacy. Although this is one of the easiest safeguards, many chose not to use it because it is "annoying" to have to enter a password, sometimes more than one. How many of these individuals have become victims? I'm sure if we were to ask them now, they would have more passwords than anyone else. Hopefully this will be a reminder to increase our security measures to ensure our privacy.