There are a lot of issues here but for me they all boil down to the
failure of the laws (and the people behind them) to catch up.
My understanding is that anti lock breaks have data recorders in them
that have been used aginst the car owners in accidents. ( record speed
+stopping times ) It's something I remember reading about but right now
I can't find the links.
I've just gotten a droid phone, and it has the lattitue app that will
let me share and see the location of my friends and for them to see me.
Google seems upfront about respecting my privacy, but they have the
data so if they want to use it, or the government wants/asks them for it
they are going to get it. .... (no need to hack into the phone)
I'm sure we all have seen NCIS or other crime dramas where the cops
locate somebody by locating their cellphone in moments. I'd like to
think the process takes longer and is a little harder than they make it
seem. But I do know it can be and is done. What I don't know is what
level of probable cause is needed for the govt to request this data. Or
do they argue that it's like our phone bill , that they can see just
because they want to. I'd disagree with that argument.
I would personally LIKE a black box recorder that recorded (with video)
from my car. Ideally this could be used in an investigation after an
accident. My only stipulation is that the data enclosed be considered
part of my own testimony such that I could plead the 5th and not release
it. If that was the rule, I think you would see a lot of these types of
devices. But I wouldn't have one if I could be compelled to reveal its
contents.
Sadly It is very rare to see these issues delt with sensibly in the
political arena. My hope is that the generation the grew up with these
thing all around will fix the laws to deal with them properly.
--Russell
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