The Snitch in Your Pocket

In Michael Isikoff's article "The Snitch in Your Pocket" he exposes the facts on the federal government's ability to access public cell phone records in real time and use them to locate and gain personal information on whomever they want.  He provides examples of the good that his has done for serious criminal investigations, as well as the abuse and potential abuse. Personally, I find it a bit unsettling. The government can use your cell phone to see where you’ve, who you have been talking to, and what you have been saying. While they say it is used for criminal investigations and access is only given to cleared officers with warrants, there have already been multiple cases of abuse,  and our personal information is being monitored and used for reasons that are far from constitutional.  I am not going to say that this is scary, because it doesn’t really surprise me and I was already aware that the government can do this, though I do find it unsettling. In my opinion it gives the government too much power. In the last paragraph Isikoff brings up the point that the federal government could use this technology to target political protestors. In theory, the constitution gives the people the power to keep the government in check, and even impeach and overthrow if necessary. If the government can track and keep tabs on all that oppose or disagree with what it is doing, they have too much power. It reminds me too much of George Orwell’s 1984, and the concept of Big Brother. With programs like the NSA, and the federal government’s ability to monitor anything and everything people do, I see the concept of Big Brother becoming more and more prevalent in today’s society.