All Cellphones to have government mandated "chip"

[EL PRESIDENTE]

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/05/10/national-emergency-alert-system-set-to-launch-in-nyc/

It’s called the Personal Localized Alert Network or PLAN. Presidential and local emergency messages as well as Amber Alerts would appear on cell phones equipped with special chips and software.


For now, the alerts are capable on certain high-end cell phones but starting next year, all cell phones will be required to have the chip that receives alerts.

By the end of the year, the new system will be in place in New York City and Washington and in cities around the country by the end of 2012.
Bloomberg made the announcement about the new system Tuesday morning with FCC chairman Julius Genashowski and other federal and local officials.
This new emergency alert system is part of the Warning Alert and Response Network Act that was approved by Congress in 2006.

Consumers would be able to opt out of all but those presidential messages.

 

[Ed O]

What a waste of money.

Ed O.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Japan has this in their cell phones for earthquake and Godzilla warnings.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

looking forward to this getting hacked.

 

[Colonel Ronan]

Looking forward to becoming more and more policed. No more calling your dealer for a dub, guys!

 

[BrianFromWA]

looking forward to the next HCP thread...

"HELP GEEEEEEKS! I TOTALLY NEED MY PREZ CHIP JAILBROKEN!"

 

[3RA1N1AC]

only people with something to hide would mind getting spyed on. in fact it makes me hard just thinking about someone watching me in the shower, or reading my insanely crude and xxx text messages.

i think everyones laptop camera should feed straight to some pervert in DC so he can beat off to me beating off to some dude beating off all over some chick thats beating off

 

[Natebishop3]

This country has become a very depressing place.

 

[Colonel Ronan]

I have no problem masturbating on camera.

 

[Natebishop3]

I have no problem masturbating on camera.

Yeah, but I think it creeps out your sister when you send her the video.

 

[Colonel Ronan]

Yeah, but I think it creeps out your sister when you send her the video.

huh

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I predict the ACLU will get in the middle of this.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

What makes anyone think the government can't already spy on anyone's cell phone transmissions at any time? I certainly assume that any call/text I make from my phone is potentially subject to surveillance (not that I particularly care).

Perhaps I'm naïve, but I see this as nothing more than a method by which the government can inform (propagandize?) the public with a minimum of effort. I don't see how this would be an intrusion on or reduction of our freedoms or civil rights.

 

[Denny Crane]

Twitter is not enough. "Go vote for Obama. This has been a message from the emergency broadcast system."

Actually, this is shades of Orwell's 1984.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'm seeing more as a precursor to the V-for-Vendetta scene where V's on the broadcast system and Chancellor Sutler wants him turned off. Dascombe tells him that he can't...Sutler required that it be able to be pumped without interruption into every home and screen.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

 

[3RA1N1AC]

at least they arent making me have my cock shortened yet

 

[Ed O]

What makes anyone think the government can't already spy on anyone's cell phone transmissions at any time? I certainly assume that any call/text I make from my phone is potentially subject to surveillance (not that I particularly care).

Perhaps I'm naïve, but I see this as nothing more than a method by which the government can inform (propagandize?) the public with a minimum of effort. I don't see how this would be an intrusion on or reduction of our freedoms or civil rights.

I agree with all of this, and it's why I focused on the costs involved, rather than a creepiness factor, or whatever.

I don't think that the benefits that are associated with reaching cellphone users in a semi-guaranteed fashion is worth the costs associated with mandating the consumers purchase phones with that functionality.

Ed O.

 

[MARIS61]

What makes anyone think the government can't already spy on anyone's cell phone transmissions at any time? I certainly assume that any call/text I make from my phone is potentially subject to surveillance (not that I particularly care).

Far, far beyond that.

Here's a 5 year-old article. They're probably watching you read this post with your web-cam right now.

http://www.zdnet.com/news/fbi-taps-cell-phone-mic-as-eavesdropping-tool/150467

 

[PapaG]

So, if everybody in a sports arena gets a "run for your lives!!!" (subjective interpretation of message by the recipient) emergency broadcast, isn't the potential there for a stampede, with trampled bodies everywhere? This goes for any place where a lot of people are in one confined area. Times Square, for example.