March 22,2016

No Knock Warrants

In the United States, a no-knock warrant is a warrant issued by a judge that allows law enforcement officers to enter a property without immediate prior notification of the residents, such as by knocking or ringing a doorbell. In most cases, law enforcement will identify themselves just before they forcefully enter the property. It is issued under the belief that any evidence they hope to find can be destroyed during the time that police identify themselves and the time they secure the area, or in the event where there is a large perceived threat to officer safety during the execution of the warrant.

 The number of no-knock raids has increased from 3,000 in 1981 to more than 50,000 in 2005, There was plenty of time were burglars have robbed homes pretending to be the police. In 4th amendment it states that no warrant shall be issued to search a house unless there is probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation according to https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fourth_amendment. 

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A no knock warrant is issued by the judge so that the people is allowed to go in your home without ringing the bell or knocking on the door.  In the play "The Crucible" most characters in the play are accused of witchcraft. Everyone was taken into trail and the police just went into their homes and took them to court. 

Apple vs FBI

Apple a $624 billion net worth value which all started up with there first invention Apple I year May, 1976 that sold for $666.66. But in 2014 that same computer was sold in a auction for $905,000. So not so long ago apple was told by the FBI to build a version of there ios for the FBI. So that the FBI can only use it for certain things like unlocking the phone with out knowing the password. which in some people eye yes that would be a great idea but i others its not.apple has spent many years trying to develop the program it is running no and out of no where at is not going to let that all go to waste. The FBI is basically telling apple to give them all there secrets on how to unlock the device with out knowing the password in a single software. Now many things can go bad is this happens like what if the FBI got the software but never got the chance to use it, apple just gave it all up for nothing. Two what if a hacker got a hold to this software and could do anything like expose it to everyone so everyone can use it and that would be total chaos. If the FBI gets want they want then they have a dangerous power in there hands.

Google is spying on us

Google is one of the most used search engine of all time. It's filled with information, websites, pictures and everything we need on the internet. Everyone uses it, especially K-12 students. We all think it's a very useful search engine. But what we don't know is that Google is spying on us.

"The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit privacy watchdog organization, filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, accusing Google collecting and data-mining Children's Internet searches." There are several organizations that are complaining about Google spying on us. " Sync feature on the Google Chrome Web Browser is enable by default on Chromebooks Widely sold to schools, which allows Google to track,store and data-mine records of all the Internet sites a students visits". This feature can see everything we are doing on the Chromebooks.

                                http://www.fedupusa.org/2013/09/google-well-paid-government-spy/

Google being able to track us is violating the Student Privacy Pledge. And overall it is violating our privacy. In the Crucible it shows people being tracked. When the girls were dancing in the woods there was someone spying on them. He then went back to tell everyone in the town.

From my perspective I think this is something serious and that shouldn't be happening. This violates our rights. People should have a say in whether they want to be tracked on Google or not. Overall, Google can see everything we do.

Is the US PATRIOT act doing what it said it would do?

The September eleventh terrorist attacks in 2001 sparked a fear of another terrorist attack in our homeland. This fear also reached our government which inspired the creation of the US PATRIOT act 9 days after the 9/11 attacks. This act enables 34,000 law enforcement agencies across the country to ensure the safety of american citizens by sifting through personal files and educational records. I don't really believe they would find evidence of terrorism in educational records. The US PATRIOT act is supposed to prevent and stop terrorism in the United States. The US PATRIOT act is allowing, the delaying notice of the execution of a warrant, disclosure of educational records, and access to many other records.

Brian Jenkins, a counter terrorism expert and high level consultant, helped create the first database of international terrorists. Jenkins says "What we have put in place is the foundation for a very oppressive state." The US PATRIOT act is building a foundation for something very scary; and it is being used to do very revealing things. one example is in 2011 the government used the US PATRIOT act in 1,618 drugs cases and only 15 terrorist related cases. 200 colleges and universities have already turned over student information to the FBI. These very few examples show that the US PATRIOT act is barely being used to stop terrorism, but instead stop our very own citizens that we are supposed to be protecting, like innocent students, and anyone with a simple cell phone.



http://jimbovard.com/blog/2015/06/01/my-2003-oped-on-patriot-act-lies-baltimore-sun/


In The Crucible there are many examples of spying, unlawful retrieval of evidence, and lies; all of which relate to the US PATRIOT act. John Proctor says "A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything" I think this very closely resembles how the US PATRIOT act works and how not many civilians see it, 91% of registered voters are unaware of the encroachment on their rights.The US Government is trusted by many civilians without question, but the government is doing a lot behind the peoples backs,and they see everything and they use it against anyone. I believe the US PATRIOT act in general closely simulates the hysteria and finger points that occurs in The Crucible.

These very few examples show that the US PATRIOT act is barely being used to stop terrorism, but instead stop our very own citizens that we are supposed to be protecting, like innocent students, and anyone with a simple cell phone.

Who's listening? 

" Any society that will give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and loose both."  Benjamin Franklin 

Due to the attacks of September 11, 2001  PRISM was created under the presidency of George W. Bush. The government of the United States took the decision of 
improving the security of all citizens however at the same time they are violating the 4th amendment to keep us safe.

 


The NSA allows the Government of the United States to have direct access to systems that we constantly use like Google, Facebook and apple. The NSA access is part of a new program that I'm sure most of us did not have knowledge of it. The undisclosed program called Prism. This  program allows officials  to collect materials including  search history, e-mails, phone calls and Facebook data.

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What should you know about prism?
They record most of calls made in the United states  including telephone number of  phones making and receiving the call listed but not what the call contains. They also record instant messages unknown people via Prism  which  involve the cooperation of at least nine 

Why is PRISM a big deal? Who is responsible of PRISM?

Both the companies and the government insist that date only collected with court approval and specific targets. PRISM is said to merely be streamlined system varying between companies that allows them to expedite court-approved date collection request. Because there are a few technical details  about how PRISM operates, and because of the fact that court operates in secret, critics are concerned about the extent of the program and whether it violates the constitutional right of US citizen.

http://www.cnet.com/news/what-is-the-nsas-prism-program-faq/#!

How has the FBI invaded people's privacy on phones?

Everyone likes privacy right? No one likes it when someone else comes and tries to go through everything on your phone. No body would be happy if the FBI started to track everything that everyone does on their phone. That would be unfair, because we live in a country where we have the right to have privacy. The FBI has gone to court with Apple because they want Apple to create a software that will the FBI can use to unlock iPhones.

This is all happening because of one simple murder investigation. On November 13,2015 there was a shooting at a soccer game in Paris, where some died due to the attack that some terrorist did. After that had happened they threaten Washington D.C and other places. The FBI has been doing investigation on this case, but what they are asking now is for Apple to make a software to unlock IPhones so they can track their phones and who they've been communicating with. I personally understand that they are trying to do this to continue with this case and go further with it, but if this happens imagine how mad many people would be. I don't think it's right for them to be invade others privacy because after they get all the information they needed what will happen then? Will they go into others people phones to see or track what they've been doing. Many people would probably take them to court because it's their phones and it's were they keep many things. Maybe phones is the device that many trust, but if this ends up happening many people won't trust to communicate by phone anymore. Millions of people have IPhone because they think it's the most secure device out there. For example if they lose it they can always go to Find my IPhone and they'll fine it. They also have passcodes to access their private things. Will people trust IPhones if Apple makes the software. I'm pretty sure that many won't. It's something that the FBI should think about. For the many people that rely on IPhones security this case will be severe to them.

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) has said that it supports Apple in its court battle with the FBI. The ACLU has said that forcing Apple to create a software is the same thing as asking Apple to become part of the FBI itself. Apple said that making a software will give the opportunity for FBI to unlock millions of IPhones. The ACLU has also said that if the government prevails, then this case with Apple and FBI would be the first case of many requiring companies to degrade the security and to undermine the trust in their products. If Apple losses it's court battle, it would be a vast.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/03/02/technology/apple-fbi-support/index.html

The USA PATRIOT ACT

Jose Ismael Coreas 

9/22/2016

Have you ever felt like you are been seen? 

 well you are being seen mostly every where you go but its for your own safety 

The Patriot Act allows investigators to use the tools that were already available to investigate organized crime and drug trafficking. Many of the tools the Act provides to law enforcement to fight terrorism have been used for decades to fight organized crime and drug dealers, and have been reviewed and approved by the courts.Before the Patriot Act, courts could permit law enforcement to conduct electronic surveillance to investigate many ordinary, non-terrorism crimes, such as drug crimes, mail fraud, and passport fraud. 

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2003/09/a_guide_to_the_patriot_act_part_3.html

Agents also could obtain wiretaps to investigate some, but not all, of the crimes that terrorists often commit.  Allows federal agents to ask a court for an order to obtain business records in national security terrorism cases. Examining business records often provides the key that investigators are looking for to solve a wide range of crimes. Investigators might seek select records from hardware stores or chemical plants, for example, to find out who bought materials to make a bomb, or bank records to see who's sending money to terrorists. 

The Patriot Act increased the penalties for those who commit terrorist crimes Americans are threatened as much by the terrorist who pays for a bomb as by the one who pushes the button. That's why the Patriot Act imposed tough new penalties on those who commit and support terrorist operations, both at home and abroad. In particular, the Act:

Prohibits the harboring of terrorists. The Act created a new offense that prohibits knowingly harboring persons who have committed or are about to commit a variety of terrorist offenses, such as: destruction of aircraft; use of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons; use of weapons of mass destruction; bombing of government property; sabotage of nuclear facilities; and aircraft piracy.

  As students we are reading the crucible in the crucible people were interrogated on the grounds of witchcraft. Though it was actually a satire of the Red Scare.The idea of the witch hunt reflects what was going on with the hunt for alleged communists. Or as it related to the patriot act - terrorists. Both situations are about finding scapegoats in order to temporarily relieve tensions in society and the way that other people do not respect others  privacy because in Salem since it was such a small town everybody knew everything about any body in the town especially if it is a bad situation. 

Knock Knock im coming in?

  A recent investigation shows that 10% of all no knock warrants that are given out go to the wrong house. Imagine walking down the stairs to start your day off with a coffee and you hear "BOOM" then see whats in the photo, I would pee right where i'm standing. Police are authorized to conduct 20,000 no knock raids a year.( In theory there suppose to use it for dangerous situations but in reality they use no knock for a comm

In are 4th amendment it states that no warrant shall be issued to search a house unless there is probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation.






                                                                                                                        A no-knock warrant is issued by a judge to allow the  police to break into your house without knocking or ringing the doorbell. The no knock warrant allows the element of surprise on the suspect they are trying to catch, so the suspect wont be able to destroy the evidence or run. The down side is that most of the time no knock warrant are sent to the wrong door and SWAT or FBI use flash bangs or breaching rounds to capture the wrong suspect.

In the crucible the judges(Hathorne, Danforth) would give out warrants for people to be trailed in court for witchery or for questioning. One big moment in the play was when Cheever got a warrant from the judges to arrest Goody Proctor of witchery because her name was brought up in court and Cheever busted in the house of the Proctors and started asking for a poppet then when he got the poppet he arrested Goody Procter. Since someone said that she a witch she got arrested of being a witch without any evidence he arrested her.
Do u think its right to be accused of something but they have no evidence to prove that your guilty?

Someone Is Spying On You!

       Google shouldn't be spying on students, every person in the United State have their rights to have privacy. The EFF (electronic frontier foundation) Staff Attorney Nate Cardozo said that if google wants to use students data to improve google product with different information. Google has taking students data and information and has sell those information to improve other product. Parents are arguing about how google taking information off of their children data with out asking. The FTC ( federal trade commission should investigate google conduct ,stop the company from using students personal information. For example google has bring up students data, records, what you been watching on YouTube, also any password from any website.



      This problem is like what my personal life because in my family these was a family member that someone stole one my family member social security number. We didn't know until all the bill came to the house. Also they was using it in different place . That person use all the information my my family member use. It was a big problem because my family member that to pay for all the bill. Also we had to look for a lawyer to help us cancel all the bills that we needed to pay. It took us about a year to fix everything.

      This topic is connected to The Crucible because in the play Parris was spying on the girls when the girls went to the woods. Parris was spying on the girls to see what they going to do in the woods. when he saw one of the girls naked he was mad.

Public Spaces...Should we see cameras?

    So we've heard of this situation that causes some tension. Most people agree that we shouldn't have cameras in public spaces cause that is invading our privacy. But some say that we should have it for criminal activities. But who really says that? is it really for criminal activities or for something else. Over the years, people has said that its been working, but really has it?
  
   Now its good that we have them for criminal activities, but what else is it used for? People say that we are being watched by the CIA or higher powers above us. But could it be true? Then again why would you want to be watched by some guy or girl behind that camera. I know I wouldn't and that causes controversy. People bring us the fourth amendment. 
   
  The fourth amendment says "The right of the people to be secure in their persons". So people say that you can't just search them up without permission. I have heard stories of people being scared to go outside cause they think the government is spying their every move and they are normal citizens. This can also be brought back to the times of the Salem Witch trials. In "The Crucible" people would watch other people to see if they were as they said they were and most got accused for no reason. It happen first when Parris found the girls in the forest dancing. He went to investigate cause he knew they were doing something bad and he needed to know. Then later we see that Parris told the Cheever if he can check on John Proctor and then we find out that he did see Proctor working on Sunday. So we can say that even back then the Cheever and the Court saw what people were doing. Another thing is that the cameras could bring up the wrong person or race. 
   
   In Great Britain, camera operators have been found to focus disproportionately on people of color. Also it causes people to think differently and to think more outside the box. They have a better understanding and are more aware that they are being watched at anytime. They don't want to offend the government agents and call attention. It has a chilling effect in you life cause we have to think twice on what we say about anything. So is it good or bad? it just your opinion you decide. But know they are watching.   

Sources:https://www.aclu.org/whats-wrong-public-video-surveillance
http://www.ifsecglobal.com/role-cctv-cameras-public-privacy-protection/
http://www.michellehenry.fr/surveillance4.jpg

Do whistle-blowers deserve to be prosecuted or praised?

Whistle-blowers are a person who informs on a person or a organization engaged in an illicit action.
I believe that whistle-blowers should not be prosecuted for their information on people and company's because they may have big information on corruption; which can help the public know what they are doing and put a stop to these acts.

the biggest Whistle-blower that everyone knows is Edward Snowden; he exposed NSA by leaking information and documents about how they are spying on every american citizen and exposed how they are spying on different country's like China; Most people consider him as a traitor but some think he is a hero to the United States. 

So my question is should we really prosecute whistle-blowers who exposes company's and government agencies for their corrupt acts and secrets? In the crucible because when John proctor is trying to expose Abigail and the girl for their false statements about people who have been accused of witchcraft; When he does try to explain the wrong that the girls have done the jury are convince that he is working for the devil instead of seeing him as a hero or a person who is trying to help.

http://thecontributor.com/humor/five-cartoons-about-bradley-manning-and-war-whistleblowers

This political cartoon shows how the United States treats Whistleblowers and tell the American Ctizens how they betrayed the state; instead of showing the good side of Edward Snowden or other Whistleblowers like him. This topic or choice mostly depends on what the regular citizen believe they can believe that people who expose or steal government secrets are traitor or that they are heroes to the United States.

TSA – body scanners and pat downs

TSA – body scanners and pat downs

In this argument i believe TSA should be strictly enforced throughout transportation services, it would enhance security all around. As for privacy there could be way to work around and manage the situation to adjust to the public´s preferences and wants. 
   





the controversy of TSA pointing their attention towards locking down security in all of transportation areas but easing down on personnel privacy. Particularly what they have done to help is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of transportation security while improving the passenger screening process. 

In my perspective i see one solution, that is to maintain the privacy of passengers yet be able to keep a stronghold of security within all facilities and locations. I could relate to this with an example of my many traveling experiences. A man ahead of me refused a pat down so they ran him through a full-body scanner, witch the softly found a pocket knife on him. in my opinion if it weren't for the machinery this man could have caused serious harm to others within the airport or worse on a plain.

I believe with TSA the security of passengers is more safer than harmful, it prevents critical accidents from happening. Passengers  argue that the full-body scanners are "intrusive", but with proof from recent testings of a newer software within the systems show that you could see different formatted images on screens without exposing the privacy of ones being. The upgraded technology uses a type of mechanical heat sensing of waves instead of graphical x-rays leading to a less controversial issue dealing with innovation of privacy(problem solved)  

A quick connection to the crucible can relate along the lines of when a villager was accused they'd be attacked with demeanor basically being accused until proven innocent, hear with TSA you'd be accused of carrying explosive or owning a weapon just by the appearance or race you were, but full-body scanners could always prove otherwise.

Are No-Knock Warrants Unconstitutional?

What is a no-knock warrant? Well let me tell you, no-knock warrants are warrants issued by a judge that allows law enforcement officers to enter a property without immediate prior notification of the residents, such as by knocking or ringing a doorbell.

https://www.google.com/search?q=no+knock+warrant&safe=strict&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X
&sqi=2&pjf=1&ved=0ahUKEwjYpOmCptLLAhVHHR4KHd
XJAdoQ_AUICCgD#safe=strict&hl=en&tbm=isch&q=no+knock+warrant+cartoon&imgrc=6CXknEGGNFh4ZM%3A

In my opinion no-knock warrants are wrong and unconstitutional. They are wrong because police officers shouldn't be allowed to just barge in someones home. The resident should be notified before the police officer enters and should be the one to let them in. No-knock warrants are unconstitutional because it violates a persons human right to privacy. ¨No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his/her privacy, family, home or correspondence¨. But no-knock warrants allows police enforcement to invade someones privacy which violates their human right to privacy. In the cartoon above you can see the police officers invading a family's privacy, the police officers woke the poor pair up. Even scared the guy because he has a bat in his hand. In the bubble it says "We have the right to break in and enter, anything you do to resist can be held against you". If police officers have the right to break in and enter into someones home than they're no better than criminals. Police officers should not be issued these type of warrants, its wrong and unjust.

In my class we're reading a play called "The Crucible" and in that play many to most characters are accused of witchcraft. First thing that came to mind when I researched this topic was this play. How all these characters were accused and how they were taken to court for trial. Just like these police officers and their no-knock warrants. The police officers just break into your home and take you away, they arrest you. Back then during the witch trials and today in day no one should have the right to break into your home and arrest you. It's not right. No one has the right to invade your privacy. So yes no-knock warrants are unconstitutional, they violate peoples human rights.