Today, I read an article about GPS system, which is to protect our kids from being kidnapped. Since two elementary school girls were murdered, it has been a big issue and maybe most of people would agreed with this safety device. However, I think this is just a stopgap not a radical resolution. I will explain to you my position.
First, police officials are trying to avoid the blame from citizens for taking 82 days to find the murderer. It is 82 days that is really important in this situation. According to studies about sexual and abductions crimes, many of suspects were usually people who lived near victims. Also, in this case, the killer lived only 150m far from victim’s house. For that reason, I’m quite doubtful about the way police officers do their job. Therefore, they decided to draw people’s attention elsewhere in order to avoid their responsibility, which apparently sounds effective.
Second, GPS system is about privacy that many people want to keep. If all citizens install GPS systems on their cell phones we are under the control of big brother. Some people might say that we have to take a risk for the better peace but do you think the sexual and children-related crimes will disappear if we do this? I don’t think so. Eventually it will turn out to be not effective at all and will only violate our private life.
I mentioned two important reasons why GPS system, which is suggested by police officials, can not be a radical resolution. It’s just an excuse for cops. We need to find more effective and practical ways to protect both childrens from crime and privacy as well.
I agree with this writer.
In my case, I do not want to open my privacy to the others.
howere I could accept GPS system if there were some limitation.
First, they have to get a perminssion from me.
Second, I just open what I want to the people who is authorized by me.
Along with those kinds of condition, if they gurantee my safty better than now, I’m going to accept GPS system.
this case I was so angry about polices reaction.
this time police do not excuse!!
but GPS system is good I think.
chidern realte crime never gone end of world but we should to decrease that rate.
GPS system help decrease crime rate I think.
even if personal private is the most important thing, decrease chidern realte crime is what we do the most important.
82 days. Basically I think it’s inconsiderate and inhuman to have limitation of time in finding lost children. Of course, public system needs rules and regulations to be fair for everyone but sometimes those are used in justification of giving up the possibilities to save lives. Life is more valuable than anything.
Joo-Hyoung,
The problem with requiring permission is that governments usually can find a way around this. For example, the US government found a way to order illegal wiretaps on “suspected terrorists” and then protected the telephone companies for breaking the law. And in the US, people are VERY aware of these rights. Such rights and freedoms were only won by Koreans much more recently, so how do we trust the government to really follow the rules?
I personally would strongly prefer a more functional legal system — more effective cops, stronger laws, much more realistic disciplinary measures. After all, the guy who was caught is a repeat offender. Repeat offenses are so common among child molesters that there’s no reasonable reason for the justice system to ever release them unsupervised these days. Maybe we need to put the GPS tracking chips into the bodies of these crazy people, instead of our children?
And yes, I was horrified at the news, too. I couldn’t believe it took the cops so long to look at the CCTV footage, and that the media networks discussed whether to put mosaic on the man’s face while he was still at large!
Unfortunately, because of the upcoming election, it’s become a media/politics frenzy, with cops being fired as the main payoff. If that’s all that happens, it will be no better later on, and the same will happen again. Here’s hoping some real legal reforms happen too.
(A Korean version of Megan’s Law would be a start.)
I think that GPS is one of the tools that invade our privacy. Of course, I know there are benefits from this stuff. However, to me, nothing is more important than my privacy. I don’t want someone to invade my own privacy.