Privacy: The Government vs the American People

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The term “privacy” as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary is “a state in which one is not observed or disturbed by other people”. The word not is the key message in that definition. As written by the 4th amendment, every U.S. citizen has the right to his or her own possessions and lifestyles unless there is enough probable cause for this right to be broken. “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” –Amendment IV of theU.S. Constitution “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances”- Amendment I of the U.S. Constitution As so declared by these basic rights of the American People, any action taken to seize material without probable cause and the prohibition of free speech, thought and religions can be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court if the wronged party pursues legal action. This law protects against all of a law abiding citizen’s possessions; cars, houses, bags, computers, thoughts and ideas; so why shouldn’t it protect the law abiding citizen’s internet activities? Beginning in 2007 and continuing up until the current year, many internationally acclaimed companies have partnered with the government under a program dubbed “Prism”. This project, under the command of the National Security Agency ... ... middle of paper ... ...buses Seen." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 21 July 2003. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. . Pegg, David. "List25." Top 25 Most Popular Conspiracy Theories. List 25, 21 Feb. 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. "What Is the Patriot Act?" WiseGEEK. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. . "What Is the USA Patriot Act." What Is the USA Patriot Web. Department of Justice, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. . "WRAL.com: Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville." WRAL.com. WRAL News, 29 Apr. 2009. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. . . . theories/>.

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