Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
We inform. You decide.
Saturday, November 30, 2024

Big Brother is watching you.

No, we’re just kidding about that guy. But police officers are.

A recent federal court ruling in California will now permit law enforcement officials to place GPS devices on cars without any notice or warrant.

So, yeah, they’re really watching you.

Driving to Mother’s? They can know. Returning home from that night of shame? Yep, they can know about that one, too.

Initially used by Oregon Drug Enforcement Agency officials to charge and arrest a suspect in a 2007 conspiracy to grow marijuana charge, this ever-so-controversial method of gathering evidence certainly opens up the mother of all privacy can of worms.

This ruling comes just before another disconcerting privacy issue. Northern Arizona State University issued a release saying it would soon track students’ attendance via a microchip in students’ ID cards.

We’re left with a sticky conundrum of privacy versus justice, but then again, we’re even scared to type that as we’re surely being watched right now.

A former U.S. Department of Justice official spoke about the court’s ruling and said no one can expect privacy just because something is on private property.

After our minds stop racing trying to understand that sentence, we’re left with the analogy that not expecting privacy at a private residence is like not expecting sand at a beach.

We strongly oppose the Ninth Circuit Court’s decision as we can only hope that ruling is overturned in a hopeful appearance in front of the Supreme Court.

In the meantime, go about your daily lives and just remember ignorance is strength, war is peace and freedom is slavery.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox

And two plus two will always equal five.

Support your local paper
Donate Today
The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.