According to the Washington Post, in August, 2009 the “Obama administration proposed scaling back the ban on how people use government Internet sites with ‘cookies’ and other technologies”. This ruling would have allowed extensive collection of private information on every government website. In a special contract, Google was specifically exempted from any ban on collecting information of people using their site.
It was later revealed that the government website was having Google YouTube videos, that used tracking cookies, when people tuned in regarding the president’s address and other government activities taking place. It was later claimed, that same year, that this practice was being banned.
However, the government then stated that the ban only applied to the government and not third parties which meant that tracking by Google was fine. It was stated in a policy review that having cookies would “improve customer service by allowing agencies to analyze how people use their sites” Supposedly, individuals would be notified of the tracking and allowed to ‘opt’ out, but this has not happened as yet.
Google is well-known for tracking everything that comes over its Internet site, using ‘cookies’. Some sites use IP tracking which can identify where you are. Some of these sites also include ip-address-search.info/37/index.jsp. Providers, including Google, keep mobile phone records and that information can be obtained anytime by the government.
That means that all personal phone calls are on record, complete with not only initiated the call, but the person called, phone number, and date of call, as well. This is a tremendous database of information on anyone who has every used a cell phone and it’s information that could be used against those who are unaware.
Under Homeland Security Rules “cookies” can be used when there is a “compelling need to gather the data on a site”. Apparently this applies to any time, anyone, and any place. Being under the guise of ‘big government,” everything one does is now under scrutiny and this can be frightening when one thinks about it. If a neighbor, for example, reported someone as ’suspicious’ that would immediately put one under suspicion, meaning that all phone calls, e-mails, and any other actions could be monitored.
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.