subject: Government Tracking Online Activities [print this page] President Barack Obama and his cabinet, as per an article in the August 2009 edition of the Washington Post, called for legislature to allow U.S. internet website greater access (through internet cookies and similar tools) to further track and monitor various online activities. If passed, this legislature would give government officials a significant increase in the amount of personal info which could be obtained. Google, however, would have been excluded from being banned from acquiring personal information of the individuals utilizing that particular search engine.
For particular events such as presidential addresses, it has since been established that U.S. internet sites could use internet cookies to actually track activities through such sites as YouTube when videos were viewed. Later in 2009, it was reported that this type of tracking had ceased.
The government responded that the ban would only apply to government websites and that third parties, such as Google, would not be effected by this ban. The theory they have put forth is that tracking those who use the site will improve customer relations as it will permit agencies to study how people are making use of their site, there had been discussion of an "opt out" choice for people visiting the site, but this has not been put into place, at this time.
It is commonly known that Google makes use of 'cookies' to track everything that comes through their site. There are other sites that also make use of IP tracking which will provide your location. Sites that are included in this are percise-ip-search.info/20/index.py. Google, along with other service sites, retain records from mobile phones and that information can be provided to government agencies at any given time.
Personal phone calls are noted with the number the call originated from, the number called, the date of the call, and additional information. There are records that include any person who has ever made use of their cell phone and it is information that could come back to harm a person in the future if they are not aware of it.
As the law states per Homeland Security, there must be a legitimate reason for seeking such information before the government can access this information via internet cookies. It also means that everyone else is supposed to fall under the same regulations, everywhere and all the time. So, with Uncle Sam (and God knows who ELSE) "watching," there are certainly plenty of reasons to watch your conduct and guard your personal information while online. In some instances, all it takes is a nosy neighbor alerting the authorities of your "abnormal activities" to allow certain officials to track and monitor your online and telephone activities.
This is clearly stated in the Office of Management and Budget Report. This was generated ten years ago and has been going on ever since. Very little information regarding privacy laws and 'cookie' Internet tracking has been created since that time as far as the government is concerned which leaves those using technology vulnerable to examination.
When science gets ahead of good sense and individual rights, it is time to take a step back and review policies that can affect individual freedoms. Governmental access can be important in preventing acts of terrorism and catching criminals quickly, but when others without the need gain access to personal information it becomes time for individuals to stand united and make their discontent known. Policies that were put in place over 10 years ago need to be reviewed and changed in order to protect the rights of those who use technology.
by: Odesi Desko
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