Middle school and high school students love both
their cell phones and their privacy. The recent news that the National
Security Agency is tracking cell phone data is a great topic to get kids
thinking critically. This relevant lesson gives our students some
understanding of perspectives, media literacy and the Fourth Amendment.
You can use this scenario with links and resources and the SCAN© critical thinking strategy to
help students understand these complex issues:
Privacy or Security – Do we have to
choose?
In a democracy, it is the job of each
citizen to be educated and involved in the government so that abuses do not
occur.
Recently, it has come to light that the National
Security Agency has been keeping track of everyone’s cell phone data- not just
the suspected terrorists, but everyone’s. They are not listening in on
conversations, but they are keeping track of who is talking to whom and how
long. This surveillance is said to be similar to the information on the
outside of an envelope- you can see who the message is going to and coming from
and when it was sent. You cannot see the contents. Some people feel
very strongly that the agency is acting against the Constitution by collecting
information from innocent people without cause. Others think that
anything that can help prevent or catch terrorists is worth the
sacrifice. At what point would you say it has gone too far?
Resources:
Take part in the discussion of concerns and issues
caused by the Patriot Act and decide what should be done.
US News & World Report has a section called The
Debate club which provides different expert opinions on hot
topics. In this case the question is “Should Americans be worried about
the National Security Agency’s Data Collection? You can have your students
go right to the site to see the four perspectives they provide. They can
even vote for the one they agree with most.
Perspectives:
Here are the links to the separate
perspectives. Assign students different perspectives to represent and let
the discussion begin!
Alberto Gonzales: Former
Attorney General
Gonzales believes that since our enemies use every
available tool to hurt us, we should use all of our available tools and
technology to keep us safe. He believes that as long as there are rules
to govern how the information is used, and we are keeping an eye on these
activities, they are worth the loss of privacy. He states that we have no
expectation of privacy for records that are held by a third party – in this
case the phone company.
Shayana Kadidal: Senior Managing
Attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights
Kadidal is against the search of all American
citizens’ phone records. He believes that even though they are only
collecting “metadata” – the connecting numbers and locations, you can figure
out things about the content. For example, if you have called a lawyer,
people may think that you are guilty of something. Who you call on your
phone should be private. He is afraid that the rules that allow
collecting information from Verizon could easily be applied to peoples’ other
records, such as bank statements, credit card information and internet search
information. These can provide detailed pictures of our private lives.
Jonathan Turley: Professor of
Public Interest Law at George Washington University
Turley is alarmed that the National Security Agency
has begun collecting information on millions of average citizens. He
feels that although our leaders at the moment may have our best interests in
mind, future leaders may begin using the data for their own purposes of power
and greed. He quoted Benjamin Franklin’s warning that “those who would
give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither
liberty nor safety.” He is afraid that this breach of privacy is just the
beginning of living in a society where we are constantly under surveillance.
Jon Yoo: Former Deputy Assistant
Attorney General in the Office of the Legal Counsel of the U.S. Department of
Justice
Mr. Yoo believes that the collecting of cell phone
metadata, phone numbers and locations, does not represent a threat to our
rights. Our Constitution protects the contents of all of our
communications and this policy is within those rules. Analyzing the
data of all Americans and focusing on those that communicate with known terrorists
can help us find terrorist cells and stop future attacks in the U.S. This
activity has been approved by Congress and is covered in the Patriot Act which
was enacted after 9-11 to protect us from further attacks.
Some simple video perspectives:
This lesson is available as a free scenario this
month on the online SCAN
discussion tool. This engaging platform guides students through the
SCAN steps in an engaging, interactive format.
Ask the right questions and get your students
thinking and writing. How would you use this lesson?
