Is Your Television Watching You?

I haven't ever hooked up a phone line to my satellite receiver box so I don't believe they or whoever can tell what I am watching. However I did get twice in the last few years a Nelson's tv rating book or whatever those rating books are called. I guess that means that someone wants to know what I am watching. I could imagine if someone could record what I watched that I would drive them crazy by flipping channels all the time unless a good sci-fi show came on or I fell asleep.

Originally posted by orionthehunter
I haven't ever hooked up a phone line to my satellite receiver box so I don't believe they or whoever can tell what I am watching. However I did get twice in the last few years a Nelson's tv rating book or whatever those rating books are called. I guess that means that someone wants to know what I am watching. I could imagine if someone could record what I watched that I would drive them crazy by flipping channels all the time unless a good sci-fi show came on or I fell asleep.

That is what my cable has been on for years, so I have no ides who all is behind it.

Originally posted by deepwaters
Could the federal government find out what you're watching on TV? Even if you're not the subject of a criminal investigation? If you're a satellite TV or TiVo owner, the answer is yes, according to legal experts and industry officials.

Under the USA Patriot Act, passed a month after the 9/11 terrorist attack, the feds can force a noncable TV operator to disclose every show you have watched. The government just has to say that the request is related to a terrorism investigation, said Jay Stanley, a technology expert for the American Civil Liberties Union. Under Section 215 of the Act, you don't even have to be the target of the investigation. Plus, your TV provider is prohibited from informing you that the feds have requested your personal information.

"The language is very broad," Mr. Stanley said. "It allows the FBI to force a company to turn over the records of their customers. They don't even need a reasonable suspicion of criminal behavior."

David Sobel, general counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a Washington think tank, said the Cable Act of 1984 gives cable operators greater protection against the Patriot Act. Cable companies do not have to release an individual's records unless the feds show that the person is the target of a criminal investigation. Even then, the individual must be notified of the request, which he can then challenge in court. "The Patriot Act does not override the Cable Act," Mr. Sobel said.

You couldn't blame the satellite TV industry for feeling a little vulnerable these days. DirecTV, for instance, collects a large amount of individual data, such as program package orders, pay-per-view orders and even online purchases via the DirecTV-Wink interactive shopping service. The Justice Department could ask DirecTV to disclose whether you subscribe to Playboy or purchased Viagra if it would help an investigation.

But Andy Wright, president of the Satellite Broadcasting Communications Association, the industry's trade group, said he does not believe the feds will make frivolous requests. "They still have to issue a subpoena to get the data," he said. "Even in today's environment, I can't imagine a judge would approve a subpoena that is not warranted."

However, the ACLU's Mr. Stanley said the Patriot Act is different because the government can get the order from the special Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court rather than a judicial court. "It's not like a subpoena. The standards are much weaker than in a criminal case," Mr. Stanley said.

But Mr. Wright contended that satellite TV viewers should not be concerned that they will be subjected to improper searches. The satellite chief added he's not sure the federal government needs to give dish owners the same protection as cable viewers. "I would have to study that more before supporting that," Mr. Wright said.

The Patriot Act, which Attorney General John Ashcroft said is crucial to fighting terrorism in the United States, has scared many civil libertarians. However, the possibility that the feds could use the law to learn about your viewing habits has been overlooked until now. The invasion of privacy might be well intentioned and perhaps even necessary. However, there's also the danger that an overzealous team of agents will abuse the law. In the spirit of the early patriots, all Americans need to remain vigilant.

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There are many reasons to justify the Patriot Act as there are just as many justifying the use of RFID's that are being used in a Texas school district to monitor the activities of over 43,000 school children.

I believe it was Ben Franklin or perhaps Thomas Jefferson who said:

"Those who sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither." Giving up our civil liberties to secure peace is a joke. Terrorists understand only one thing....meet terrorism with force. These are not a nations army defending itself. Its a group of fanatical religious zealots hell bent on killing anyone who doesn't convert to their religion. The terrorists are being back by terrorists nations who hate America and will stop at nothing to anniliate us.
Rather than fighting individual terrorist organizations declare war on the nations supporting terrorism and you'll stop the terrorists cold.

reply to post by deepwaters


wronganswers.com...

go to this web site hd gives them the ability to see you through your tv. Wake up America. Soon you will be just like the jews in Germany

duplicate thread -- deleted.

[edit on 18-2-2009 by ubergrasshopper]