DOJ petitions Supreme Court for right to track using GPS without warrant | Hacker News Reader

DOJ petitions Supreme Court for right to track using GPS without warrant

legaltimes.typepad.com

3 pointsgrellas4 comments

Very honestly, how can tracking via GPS (or cellphone GPS) be anything other than a gross violation of the USA Constitution's 4th amendment? How can the US DoJ not feel a little shame at advocating a legal position that requires twisting logic until it nearly breaks? How can the US Doj not feel highly shamed at doing this sort of thing?

After that, I have to ask what kind of weirdos work at the US DoJ? In order to want to track citizens all the time, you'd have to be a lot perverted. Do the strict entrance exams (a.k.a. "background checks") allow the DoJ to filter out honest, non-perverted people, and only let in twisted, evil, bluenosed snobs?

While I'm not in favor of warrantless wiretapping or GPS tracking, I'd appreciate you elaborating on your claim that they're twisting logic until it nearly breaks. Unfortunately, this request seems like another step down a slippery slope and not a huge break.

People at DOJ aren't perverted, they're trying to protect you and the country from criminals and terrorists. This is but one of many tools they feel they need to do that job well. You may disagree with their mission, and you may disagree with the tools they use to execute the mission, but calling the people working there "perverted" is an enormous stretch.

Many services, including ones lauded on YC, collect data about you that could be used to track you at any time without a warrant, and give that capability to other civilians. I hope that you think that is perverted, too.

As an example, check out cree.py - http://redtape.msnbc.com/2011/04/just-how-creepy-is-creepy-a...

And hacking Color - http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/color-hack-allows-users-...

Well, you make my "perverted" point for my by citing "cree.py" - "cree.py" -> "creepy", a synonym for slightly perverted. Even the author(s) of "cree.py" thought that tracking someone is a bit weird.

Can you blame them? After spending all that money on GPS units it would be a shame to let it go to waste.

/sarcasm. I was digging through DHS procurement contracts until 2am last night and I'm still feeling cynical.

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