A federal bill is currently looking at making adjustments to current surveillance laws to give police access to the complete phone records of missing persons. The question is whether or not this is too much of an invasion of privacy.
It’s a bit of a conundrum that has the police and privacy advocates debating the move. On the one hand, it must be difficult for police, who can only access [phone records for the period leading up to a missing persons report being filed. Having access to more records could potentially help them find the missing person quicker, bringing peace to the minds of their family and friends.
On the other hand, it can be seen as an invasion of privacy, giving the police power to look at records without supervision or oversight. This could be especially problematic for anybody who has decided to go missing voluntarily.
It’s a debate we’re seeing more and more of as technology becomes even more ubiquitous in our daily lives. Hopefully the bill will find some form of middle ground that will be enough to keep both police and cvil libertarians happy.
[SMH]