Someone May Be Watching You Through Your Laptop Camera

image

by Long Island Attorney Paul A. Lauto, Esq./www.liattorney.com

In today’s society and with recently disclosed acts of the current administration, it seems that privacy has largely become a thing of the past.  Perhaps George Orwell was a visionary when in 1949 he published his book entitled 1984.  It now appears that “Big Brother” is in fact  watching us.

While current day technology regarding eavesdropping is one thing, the FBI has taken surveillance technology to a whole new level.  The Washington Post has reported that the FBI is now capable of watching someone through their own laptop or computer camera without that person’s knowledge.  Acting under the guise of “network investigative techniques”, the FBI can reportedly secretly deliver their surveillance software to track someone when signing on to any computer, anywhere in the world.  The software reportedly can even covertly download files, photographs, stored e-mails and collect real time images by activating cameras connected to computers.

Although court approval is “required” before engaging in such overly intrusive surveillance and the technology is to be reserved for only the most serious of crimes, it certainly raises a Fourth Amendment constitutional red flag.  The Fourth Amendment was designed to safeguard against unreasonable search and seizure of our person, home, papers and effects.  In a perfect world, perhaps that constitutional provision would be enough.  But we live in a far from perfect world, prompting the question as to whether or not any substantive privacy still exists.  If our government is now capable of watching us inside our home, one can’t help but wonder if such an intrusive violation of our privacy extends to every room in the house.  The book 1984 was written by George Orwell as fiction, but it now appears that fiction has become reality.

Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.

www.liattorney.com

Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
Paul A. Lauto, Esq. completed his undergraduate studies at SUNY at Stony Brook in 1987, with a major in political science and a double minor in socio-legal studies and moral-legal issues in philosophy. Mr. Lauto received his Juris Doctor from New York Law School in 1990 and was admitted in 1991 to practice in the courts of New York State, as well as the Eastern and Southern Districts of the United States District Court.

Mr. Lauto has primarily focused on personal injury throughout his career and previously worked as in-house counsel to a major insurance company. In 2002 Mr. Lauto established Paul A. Lauto, PLLC, with a primary concentration on personal injury, all types of accident cases, Wills, Trusts and Estates and more. Paul is the sole author of his Scales of Justice blog, which provides updates and information about current legal stories in the news and how they may affect our lives. Mr. Lauto prides himself on providing clients maximum results, with a high level of personal attorney service and attention that is uncommon in the profession. For more information please visit http://www.liattorney.com