GPS, Government and You.

[Chibibar]

https://www.eff.org/press/archives/2011/10/03-0

some of you may know that the supreme court is looking into a case where GPS was used to catch a criminal. The evidence found from such tracking over a month indict the criminal.

I do have to agree with the article that such use of GPS should require a warrant. I mean if the police does get the "blanket" approach what would prevent police to have to auto install in all cars (pun intended) and just track everyone. If you exceed the speed limit, a ticket is mail to you without needing a speed trap.

 

[strawman]

That's an interesting case. Similar to red light cameras: If the same work can be done by an officer without a warrant (ie, trailing a suspect, or viewing someone disobeying a red light) then why should automation change it?

Personally I think this should require a warrant. They can assign an officer to tail me all they want - but it will cost them significantly more in time and effort than sticking a device on my car. I want that to be difficult to obtain, only when there's already sufficient evidence that a judge will agree my rights to privacy and search and seizure are worth overriding.

 

[Chibibar]

That's an interesting case. Similar to red light cameras: If the same work can be done by an officer without a warrant (ie, trailing a suspect, or viewing someone disobeying a red light) then why should automation change it?

Personally I think this should require a warrant. They can assign an officer to tail me all they want - but it will cost them significantly more in time and effort than sticking a device on my car. I want that to be difficult to obtain, only when there's already sufficient evidence that a judge will agree my rights to privacy and search and seizure are worth overriding.

I agree. There should be a warrant. The red light camera is an iffy issue also. I personally got a ticket from it cause I thought I ran a yellow light ah well. But with new technology, it is much easier now to track people. Now hopefully we will see how far it will go.

 

[GasBandit]

I agree... GPS tracking is closer to a wiretap than a speed/red light camera. Put me in the "needs a warrant" camp.

 

[strawman]

One big difference between the speed/redlight cameras is that they police everyone equally.

The GPS tracker is user-discriminate.

On that point alone it should require a warrant (special police action against an individual, rather than enforcement of a law for everyone).