Text Messaging Featured Article

The convenience of text messaging has significantly changed the way many of us communicate on a regular basis. While the channel is not necessarily preferred in all situations, it has rapidly become a key focus for users of all ages.

When it comes to storing information, however, are you satisfied with how your carrier keeps your text messages? Do you think the management of those messages could be improved, or have you put much thought into it at all?

Recent reports out of the U.K. point to opportunities where information kept could mean improved safety. Facebook (News - Alert) has come under fire for failing to act on messages that were posted online before the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby. While the social media site hasn’t been publically named, reports point to its identity, claiming the site should have warned authorities of the killers’ plans shared in online posts.

The situation points to a bigger issue of Internet companies and providers creating a safe haven for terrorists as they continue to refuse to cooperate with U.K. authorities. The question for many is whether or not they want their pages monitored for seemingly criminal activity where none exists. Simply posting murderous intentions is not the same thing as the act, so should all such posts be considered threats?

The same questions could be posed regarding text messaging and the storing of information. Could an innocent conversation be construed as something more? Should authorities have access to the stored data to monitor your conversations or just after something bad has happened to someone in your circle? Where does privacy end and protection begin?

According to Mobile News, operators are required to comply with authorities by providing existing data on customers when requested. This includes call records, text messages and data history. Such situations imply that these requests would come in only if you are already under suspicion. If that is the case, just how much information is stored and could it incriminate you where you thought you were having an innocent exchange?

Surely these concerns are only held by those who are actually breaking the law. However, if the authorities so desire, could they demand access to information without cause? Likewise, are they required to notify the authorities if threatening texts are sent? It almost points to a “Minority Report” type of mentality where Tom Cruise has to arrest the criminals before they commit the crimes.

While information may have been posted about a soldier’s imminent death, I’m not sure it was Facebook’s duty to inform anyone. Active users gaining access to the information may carry the bigger burden here and should have gotten involved. As for texts – let’s just hope servers are purged on a regular basis so information isn’t stored indefinitely that could be construed as something more than just a message.