Argument 3

Lauren Blais

Dr. Kara Taczak 

Writing and Rhetoric 

14 March, 2018

FBI Use of Personal Webcams and Cameras 

Recent reports have shared that the FBI or the Federal Bureau of Investigation has the ability to look and watch through our webcams or cameras without our knowledge. They are able to watch within the camera without turning on the light that is usually next to or on top of the lens. This act of watching us without our consent is a lack and violation to our privacy. 

The original reason for the FBI to secretly watch someone through their own webcam was to receive more information on terrorism cases or the more serious criminal investigations. The more serious criminal investigations can be anything involving murder, abduction, sexual abuse, child molestation, child pornography, or drugs. Judges are not aways on board with using information by hacking into webcams. For instance, “the FBI were investigating a suspect in a bank fraud case, but the presiding judge ruled that the risk of accidentally obtaining information of innocent people was too great”(Malm). 

To hack into computer webcams, “the FBI team use[s] the same technique as rattlers, by infecting the computer with a malicious software-malware- through pushing. By sending an email with a link, which could be to a website, an image or a video, the user is tricked into downloading a small piece of software onto their machine”(Malm). Once the malware is installed, the FBI has the power to control the webcam and any parts of the computer at any time. The FBI does this completely without your knowledge and without making serious changes to your computer. CEO’s of Apple, Facebook, Google, AOL, Linkedln, Microsoft, Twitter, and Yahoo don’t believe that this is safe and shared their opinions by letter to the President of the United States and Congress. A crucial part of the letter said, “The balance in many countries has tipped too far in favor of the state and away from the rights of the individual- rights that are enshrined in our Constitution. This undermines the freedoms we all cherish. It’s time for change”(Malm). 

Rattlers are people that are known to hack women’s computer and watch women through their cameras. They will do this for their own sexual pleasure or to record women going through their daily lives, working, changing, etc. All the woman have no idea that they are being watched. There are websites full of pictures and videos of women unknowingly recorded. This act is very illegal and a huge violation of privacy. The FBI has the same power over women and their computers like these rattlers do. With this power, some dirty detectives may abuse it and use it for the wrong reasons. 

When the FBI director, James Comey, was asked about the FBI watching through the webcams he said, “If you go into any government office we all have our little camera things that sit on top of the screen, they all have a little lid that closes down on them. You do that so people who do not have the authority don’t look at you. I think that’s a good thing”(Violetblue). He did not say whether the FBI actually watches citizens in their webcams. He claims that covering their webcams is just a precaution, like locking your car and doors at night. 

Watching innocent people through their webcams, without their acknowledgement is a huge violation of privacy. It’s very discomforting that anytime someone uses their computer, laptop, tablet, etc., that the FBI could be watching you. The original reason for this type of security surveillance was to solve dangerous and horrendous crimes, but this acts puts innocent citizens at risk. Do you want to be watched without permission?

Works Cited 

Malm, Sara. “FBI can spy on you through your webcam without triggering the indicator light... and has had the technology for several years.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 9 Dec. 2013, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2520707/FBI-spy-webcam-triggering-indicator-light.html.

Violetblue. “The FBI recommends you cover your laptop's webcam, for good reason.” Engadget, 23 Sept. 2016, www.engadget.com/2016/09/23/the-fbi-recommends-you-cover-your-laptops-webcam-good-reasons/.