house Bill H.R. 4889
Giving Law Enforcement Your Cell Phone Location Data if You're in Serious Danger
Argument in favor
This is a commonsense bill, if there’s a reasonable belief that a person is in serious danger and law enforcement are trying to respond then cell phone providers need to turn over location data.
05/23/2016
As long as the information isn't being given to the Feds, this seems like a reasonable measure.
05/23/2016
Rarely do I support more power for police, but this honestly seems like a good idea, and one that I don't see leading to more abuse of power.
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05/24/2016
Given the narrow set of circumstances under which this bill could be invoked, and that it gives up no information other than location (not your phone data, people. Read a book), I see no serious objections to this, and it could save lives in an emergency.
Argument opposed
This bill offers protection to providers that make a good faith effort to provide needed information, but doesn’t set a punishment for those that don’t or obstruct the process.
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05/23/2016
This sounds like a good idea, but there needs to be repercussions in place for misuse of this. What happens to the police officer who illegally uses this to locate a person of interest? This tool could be used to enforce a police state. Add in some repercussions for misuse, and then I'll reconsider my support.
05/23/2016
This was a very tough decision, but when it comes down to a tough decision I ere on the side of privacy and freedom. I feel the distrust of law enforcement makes this as tough a decision as it is.
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05/24/2016
This begins a slippery slope. First, a law to send location information in an emergency. Next, a law that sends location when the police want to track you or the government wants to track you for whatever they deem a good reason. No thanks. I will keep my privacy. In an emergency, the police will arrive too late anyway. They can only hope to avenge you. You are responsible for protecting yourself.
As long as the information isn't being given to the Feds, this seems like a reasonable measure.
This sounds like a good idea, but there needs to be repercussions in place for misuse of this. What happens to the police officer who illegally uses this to locate a person of interest? This tool could be used to enforce a police state. Add in some repercussions for misuse, and then I'll reconsider my support.
This was a very tough decision, but when it comes down to a tough decision I ere on the side of privacy and freedom. I feel the distrust of law enforcement makes this as tough a decision as it is.
Rarely do I support more power for police, but this honestly seems like a good idea, and one that I don't see leading to more abuse of power.
This begins a slippery slope. First, a law to send location information in an emergency. Next, a law that sends location when the police want to track you or the government wants to track you for whatever they deem a good reason. No thanks. I will keep my privacy. In an emergency, the police will arrive too late anyway. They can only hope to avenge you. You are responsible for protecting yourself.
911 is behind Dominos in its ability to track a cellphone call. We need to fund their own tracking system, not rely on cellphone companies to answer location calls all day long for free. We also need to protect people from unnecessary invasions of privacy. This bill seems destined to be used inappropriately.
Given the narrow set of circumstances under which this bill could be invoked, and that it gives up no information other than location (not your phone data, people. Read a book), I see no serious objections to this, and it could save lives in an emergency.
Privacy is a legitimate concern and a fundamental American right- everyone should be concerned about its protection. At the same time, we can balance this right with empowering our law enforcement experts with improved tools to keep us safe. Giving police this tool makes me feel much more secure and enables our civil servants with more tools to do the very tough job we ask of them.
This is a slippery slope. Give away this permission and next they will be reading our messages. I understand the need for this but the application will almost be certainly wrong.
NO! Sounds like a police state idea. First to give aid, then control.
No need for a warrant? Just what the police state would love. All they would need is to say, "we have reason to believe John Doe is in danger, where is he?" We've seen how honest the police can be when they claim they feared for their lives before shooting unarmed teenagers, the handicapped, seniors, and animals.
I am in favor of this so long as it is not used in investigation crimes without a lawfully issued warrant based on probable case. This type of location technology also needs to be given to all 911 operators responding to calls from cell phones.
I'm always more concerned with a citizens right to privacy over the interest of the state.
