Privacy, Technology, and the Us Constitution

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In the second op-ed article from the Washington Post, US Republican senators believed that the privacy guaranteed by the fourth amendment to the Constitution is superseded by the need keep Americans safe. Many examples were given, including the Paris attacks, where terrorists are using encrypted technology to plan and carry out heinous acts of terror. They believe that if the United States doesn’t monitor this technology without a warrant, that millions of American’s lives can be at risk. Privacy matters, but not as much as national security. The writers are calling for a commission to study and recommend ways that we can continue to monitor terrorist activity and to be able to act prior to a terrorist attack.

These two articles both feature conservative thoughts and figures who are on opposing sides of the issue. One article states that the Constitution must be upheld even with advances in technology. The other article states that privacy must go by the wayside somewhat in order to keep our country and its people safe from terrorists and those who would destroy us. In addition, we are facing a privacy concern at our own high school related to the cameras in our surfaces. How much can people invade our privacy and for what reasons? Should the Constitution stand in relationship to ever evolving technology? When and for what reasons should the Constitution be violated, or is “bending “the Constitution’s intent a slippery slope for the freedom of Americans.

A tough and divisive issue for sure, this issue of Constitutionally granted privacy vs. need for safety. I believe that if the Constitution isn’t upheld in this issue, that more more rights of Americans will be taken away. Our founding fathers believed that Americans should be free from government encroachment; therefore, even with the advancement of technology, the same rules should apply today as in 1787. Government agencies wanting or needing information should be required to get a warrant in order to protect all of our rights. However, these are American rights, not those of whom are entering the country illegally or who are citizens of other nations. The Constitution protects its citizens, not those of whom are guests in our country or who are residing in another country. Utilizing this avenue to collect information would still protect our citizens but would help the safety and security of Americans.

Ultimately, I believe that underlying this issue is the issue of the Constitution and its legitimacy. I believe that if we begin eroding the rights given to us by the Constitution, we will be losing many many more depending on the whims of politics. That’s what our framers tried to avoid when the document was written. The Constitution should stand, and law enforcement agencies (and schools and anyone else) who tries to invade the privacy of a citizen with technology should be required to only do so through the legal avenues that have been provided through a timeless document that protects you and me.