Private text messages sent between friends and family members may soon be stored for up to two years if the Federal government has its way.
It is a controversial idea, but several national associations that represent law enforcement are pushing Congress to make your cell phone carriers store your text messages just in case police need it later.
How long the messages are stored depends on the carrier. According to Wired Magazine AT&T and T-Mobile discards messages immediately while Verizon keeps them for 5 days and Sprint up to 12 days. This proposed law would change that and make them available for up to two years.
Proponents say it is nothing new. A court order can allow law enforcement officials access to anything available from phone records to emails, but the problem is that text messages are not currently recorded on servers like emails.
An estimated six billion texts are sent in the United States every day.
So, we want to know -- Do you think storing text messages is an effective way to help law enforcement or does it feel like a potential invasion of privacy? Post your responses on our FOX 5 Atlanta Facebook page, tweet us @GoodDayAtlanta, or email us at goodday@myfoxatlanta.com! We'll read some of your responses during the 9 a.m. hour of Good Day Atlanta.
Friday, May 17 2013 6:31 PM EDT2013-05-17 22:31:42 GMT
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Friday, May 17 2013 11:28 AM EDT2013-05-17 15:28:00 GMT
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Friday, May 17 2013 11:18 AM EDT2013-05-17 15:18:53 GMT
What's better than Friday? FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY! This week, we got a visit from Masala Fresh Indian Street Food, and just like always, Good Day's Buck Lanford was more than willing to have a taste.
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Friday, May 17 2013 11:17 AM EDT2013-05-17 15:17:48 GMT
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Friday, May 17 2013 10:18 AM EDT2013-05-17 14:18:11 GMT
Need some great advice about... well, anything? Ask Wendy! Wendy Williams has a brand-new book (called, of course-- Ask Wendy) that offers advice on all the "drama" in your life.
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Friday, May 17 2013 7:54 AM EDT2013-05-17 11:54:05 GMT
For most women, there's a big difference between the wedding you wish you could have, and the wedding you can actually afford. So how can you have your dream wedding and not break the bank?
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Thursday, May 16 2013 11:21 PM EDT2013-05-17 03:21:44 GMT
American Idol Season 12 is almost officially over, and now, all that's left is part two of the giant finale.
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Thursday, May 16 2013 10:03 AM EDT2013-05-16 14:03:48 GMT
In the words of Ryan Seacrest, "It's all come down to this." So who's it gonna be: Candice or Kree? (yep, we know that rhymes)
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