[Alberta's Child]

The Patriot Act can’t hold a candle to the privacy invasion going on now with all those phone apps. I noticed that when you sign on to Twitter, you give Twitter permission to use your phone video camera and microphone without your knowledge or permission. Twitter does not explain why they would want to use that.

Twitter is not the government. Just don't sign on to a smartphone application that is aimed at morons.

P.S. -- This is why Clarence Thomas cast a somewhat surprising vote in favor of a seemingly clear violation of the Fourth Amendment in the Carpenter case last June. He said it was not a violation of the Fourth Amendment for the police to obtain cell phone records about a suspect without a warrant. The basis of his opinion was that the records belong to the cell phone company, not the defendant -- and that the defendant voluntarily gave those records to the cell phone company under the terms of his cell phone contract.

Ditch your smartphone, or use it to your advantage. Better yet, steal someone else's and carry it around with you if you decide to commit a crime. That way the police will arrest the wrong perpetrator. :-)

[odawg]

“Twitter is not the government”

Yes, but the government can certainly tap into Twitter.

My old Android phone is very up front in explaining the apps. ALL the apps can use ALL your phone functions without your permission or knowledge. Read your text messages, access your contact lists, use your camera, microphone, sell info to third parties, etc.