Big Brother watching? Government agencies buying cell phone, internet data to track Americans

In a little noted trend, law enforcement agencies at every level of government are increasingly buying data from private, third-party data brokers on Americans' phone and internet activities in order to track them, often without a warrant.

While proponents say this practice provides critical help for investigations, critics argue it poses a serious violation of civil liberties that needs to be addressed through legislation.

One of the latest revelations about this controversial public-private partnership came from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to "defending civil liberties in the digital world."

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I can just see the Feds getting into my phone: "What do you mean he hasn't made a call in 13 months? And he's never sent a single text?"

Or even better, "According to the tracking data from his phone, he hasn't left the house or moved from his chair in 26 days."

I remember when me and Lisa was over at Woody's a year or so ago visiting with him and his wife. The four of us are all sitting around the table and my Walmart truck phone starting ringing in my pocket. Woody asked, "Aren't you going to check to see who it is?" and I told him no, there was no need because everybody that has my number is sitting right here at the table.