Should the Government have the ability to get information from private orgaisations?

This is an interesting topic which me and a couple of friends were arguing about.

Personally, I don't think the government should have the ability to gain information from private organisations such as Facebook.

What do you think?

 

No, just think about how many stupid things people say over facebook as it is already. Not to mention if i ut up a relationship status I don't want the government or it's employees knowing who i'm with. Just my friends. When i post my family pictures and vacation pictures i don't want someone looking over them to see what's going on with me. I don't want to feel like i'm in China.

 

Yes because if the government really cares about what you post on your facebook they have a good reason to. For example the man who was a suspect in a case where he murdered someone chopped them up and mailed them to people (happened in Canada around 8 months ago) posted on his facebook wall saying "stupid police will never catch me" they tracked his ip and caught him in a cafe in another country. Also the government has no real reason to investigate the average Joe's facebook/social networking page so I don't think they'd really take interest.

 

There's no problem with the government attempting to getting information from private companies, but there needs to be probable cause and a legal process. The government needs to get a warrant to gather whatever it is they're after.

Bills like SOPA made it so the exchange of data was nearly unregulated and basically anything could be accessed.

You may not really be highly informed (at least regarding the U.S. gov) because they take interest in everyone and everything. If you even visit a website such as wikileaks, you are automatically being monitored.

Just an example: 1/10 of your phone calls are automatically recorded by the FBI. This isn't if you're on a watch list, it's just you being part of the general public. This is just the FBI, not any other agency (among the dozens there are.)

 

Never knew this. Not sure if this ever happens in Canada. I feel as if they care less and are slightly less intrusive. I hope so anyway.

 

No they shouldn't...

FaceBook is a business just as a restaurant is. Do you see it sensible for a member of the government to walk into a restaurant and ask the owner classified information about his life? No.

Same applies for all other businesses in my opinion.

 

I personally believe that they should have the power given reasonable grounds. But ONLY if they have a legitimate reason such as it is required for solving a crime or tracking somebody down.

 

My opinion: Absolutely not! I base my opinion off of historical observation of my government in the United States. One instance I reflect on is the recent IRS scandal that targeted political groups and effectively silenced them. The US government has power beyond imagination. If we, as citizens, allow government leaders to enact policies that infringes on our privacy, they will continue to a point of no return. A point where individual liberties are severely restricted and a country with complete government control.

Furthermore, this process is blatantly illegal as noted in the Supreme Law of the Land - The Constitution. The fourth amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Current case law is that hacking in to personal internet accounts without a search warrant is illegal.

 

But if for any reason the information they could gain could protect a persona, e.g. kidnap victim (unsure of possible circumstances) or track down a wanted person, do you think it should be allowed in that instance?

 

After due process and a warrant, sure. Otherwise there would be no way to prosecute companies.

 

If there's nothing to hide then why worry? They can listen to my phonecalls and know everything about my online life if they so wish - waste of their time

 

I would love to see their faces if they heard some of my phone conversations ^.^

 

That's a shitty argument. It puts way too much faith in the government's hands. Imagine if Hitler V2 came to power in America and we had already handed away our rights to privacy. He would have a perfectly legal way to spy on the entire populous in order to acheieve his fucked up goals.