Title of the Essay, Author, and Date

Mr. Brightside’s Watching You by Nora Dunner (April 24, 2014)

Title of the Reflection

Someone's watching you.

First Impression

An essay about people or government agencies watching over and monitoring our daily lives

Quote

Digital technology certainly makes it easy to invade someone’s privacy, though the ethics behind such actions are still as shaky as they were in the lipstick and collar days.

Reflection Proper:

Technologies are ubiquitous. It has played a great part in improving our society's economic status. Its daily progression is astonishing that would somehow left you in awe as you gaze upon its exemplary contributions. Although some may have a long list of all the disadvantages it possess, its great services had somehow made its ugly parts hidden from behind.

Computers and other digital devices have played a great role in making our work a lot easier and convenient. But what if instead of using it for a productive reason, some would choose to go to the wrong path?

An application named mSpy, is consider as the perfect app for those neurotic and distrustful partner or spouse. It is a mobile monitoring software, a smart phone app that logs all of the user's (that is being monitor) activity. It records every activity that has been done by the user on his phone. And if you are actually wondering on who are the buyers and consumers of this app? Like what I've said earlier, are the paranoid partners or spouse. They install the app in his partner's phone (though this is pretty tricky but mostly were successful in invading in the first step) with the other not knowing and obviously, without his authorization as well. It is a form of privacy invasion. It is crossing a forbidden line since the one being monitor is not being notify, therefore I conclude that it is indeed an act of invading someone's privacy, but a lot of parents and companies would say that it is a very helpful app in monitoring their children and employees. But despite of the reigning “good effects”, the said bad ones are still on the top poll that would explain the statement why this app, shouldn't be used or sold by producers in the market. The creator of the app didn't deny all the said bad effects of his app, nor the fact that he is completely aware in the first place that this app could lure and attract on line predators as well. But like what most people would state, “When a person uses a gun to shoot someone the manufacturer of the gun isn't the one being tracked.” Indeed.

However, this terrifying app is still being widely used worldwide. Some may use it for good reasons but some do not. We cannot control the consumers, we cannot change their perception in order to reduce the crimes but we could definitely prevent it in some way. But what do you expect? Everything is a resemblance of a yin yang, it's always balance. The good and the bad couldn't be separated. Everything has advantages and disadvantages within them, it depends on the user which side he'll be on.

5 Things That I've learned the article: 

1. It is a considered federal and/or state violation of the law in most cases to install surveillance software onto a mobile phone or other device for which you do not have proper authorization and in most cases you are required to notify users of the device that they are being monitored.
2.  Using college students, the study showed that individuals with anxious and insecure attitudes about romantic relationships are most likely to stalk their sweethearts on the social network.
3.  The mSpy website markets the software as a tool for parents to monitor their children and for companies to monitor their employees. It also mentions the benefits of installing it on your own phone: backup, storage and protection from loss or theft.
4. Mutually mistrustful partners (who are both Android users) can just cut to the chase and install Couple Tracker. It sends all the usual information to both parties involved in the relationship.
5. In a 2011 survey, 35 percent of women and 30 percent of men said they have checked their spouse’s or partner’s email or call history without them knowing.

5 Integrative Questions

1. Why what was the reason mSpy rationalize this ethically murky product?
2. Why, then, does the company broadcast “Stealth/Undetectable: Your use of mSpy will go unnoticed. This app runs in an invisible mode so that it’s impossible for the target device user to detect its presence on the phone.” so prominently?
3. What’s easy to pinpoint the potential benefits of the product’s so-called intended purposes, protecting child safety or keeping tabs on worker productivity?
4. Where can just a mistrustful couple install Couple Tracker?
5. What can anxieties and strain brings to a relationships just because you can do something?