They're Watching You

[xoxoxoBruce]

Well, duh. That's what 911 does.

[wolf]

Most of the time 911 has to go through an assortment of hoops to get that data. I've had to have them track down a couple of suicides based only on a cell phone number off the caller ID. It's a pain in the ass when you're trying to save some dumbass' life, because the 911 dispatch supervisor has to send paperwork to the cell carrier before the carrier will release the information, and with number portability, the original carrier for the number might not have the data you need.

[tw]

Originally Posted by wolf

Most of the time 911 has to go through an assortment of hoops to get that data.

Which goes right back to the same question: Are you saying it is legal but not right for government to track your car with EZ-Pass?

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by tw

Which goes right back to the same question: Are you saying it is legal but not right for government to track your car with EZ-Pass?

Well, it isn't right, but here's a secret: without EZ-Pass, they still track you.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Kitsune

Well, it isn't right, but here's a secret: without EZ-Pass, they still track you.

How besides license plate and cell phone?

But this all goes right back to a bigger question we don't ask. It therefore only festers. What is and is not considered private? I you file taxes electronically, that company can now sell your information? Is it really legal? Is it right?

In essence, there are two questions here. One is the definition of privacy. The other is the definition of identity protection. We are still doing nothing (except kludge patchwork laws) to address either.

Hopefully, (and due to an identity program foolishly based in SS numbers) with the theft of the identity of every serviceman's SS and other information, now we will decide to address the problem of identity protection. And with that program is its cousin that cannot be ignored - a definition of what is and is not private.

But again, I ask wolf a basic question: Are you saying it is legal but not right for government to track your car with EZ-Pass?

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by tw

How besides license plate and cell phone?

When you pass through a toll, you are logged, even if you pay with cash. Your license plate is captured via camera and the software pulls the letters. If you pass through the booth and no coins are detected, you are sent a fine. If I'm not mistaken, the government isn't tracking your car, but the contractor that handles the tolls certainly is.

Since the records may be retrieved by the government, should there be a requirement that will permit transportation anonymously? Of course, you are always welcome to take toll-free roads, but how long before that changes? After all, if people love the convenience of EZ-Pass, perhaps they'd love a system that also keeps their roads safe. Tolls, Speeding tickets, stolen cars, all controlled by a little box that could be required to drive the roads. If the people don't love it, the government will.

Besides, what do you care if people know where you go and how fast, right? As long as you're not doing anything wrong...

[wolf]

Originally Posted by tw

But again, I ask wolf a basic question: Are you saying it is legal but not right for government to track your car with EZ-Pass?

Sorry, missed the first time you asked ...

No, it is not legal for them to track you using EZ-Pass, but it does make it easier for "them" to do so.

[Clodfobble]

Personally, I'd be tempted to write it off as coincidence. Matthew is a pretty common name. She may have been talking to a Matthew earlier, or just misremembered your name if you did tell her early in the conversation. I would think if it's a company cell phone the company's name would be associated with it anyway, or at least the name of the one person in charge of all the cell phone contracts.

[wolf]

I think that one is illegal and not right ... last time I flew, incidentally, was 1986 or 7.

And I like flying.