Because, to be honest, life would be easier for cops, and some incremental number more criminals would in fact be caught, if there were no privacy protections. If the cops could look at anyone's text messages, or listen to their phone calls, or pat people down, or search their homes, whenever they wanted to.
Of course, there would be some nasty side effects. Such power would, inevitably, be abused by those in power (or by those others who might access the information the cops get). That's not a hypothetical — that can be pointed out with any investigatory power that is ever given to any security or law enforcement agency.
That's what society needs to keep in mind as they get presented by very earnest and reasonable-sounding police officials asking for more ways to get to your personal life.
Cops: U.S. law should require logs of your text messages
Silicon Valley firms and privacy groups want Congress to update a 1986-era electronic privacy law. But if a law enforcement idea set to be presented today gets attached, support for the popular propos…
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And by "fair" I mean, "That's their job." But it's not the citizenry's job just to nod and say, "Sure, go right ahead."
No. It's the citizenry's job to go, "Constitution, Fourth Amendment. Shove off."
Too bad many people are asleep.