I’ve paged through the same catalog and had many of the same thoughts.

However, it’s hard for me to say that none of these products should ever be on the market. For example, in my line of work, reporters use wire taps to record interviews ALL THE TIME. From the standpoint of accuracy, it’s a far superior means to conducting a phone interview than by hand transcribing an interview in real time. However, sources are always notified and asked for permission to record.

Lawyers and sales-related professionals who do much of their consultation via telephone use wire taps regularly, as well. It helps them document and transcribe their clients’ needs with greater accuracy. Again, they’ll notify you if your call is being recorded. But I think that’s a perfectly justifiable reason for the existence of these devices.

As a business owner, I also understand that it’s useful to be able to track the internet activity of employees. After all, it’s my butt on the line if anything illegal were to go down from any computers I own. It’s not anything I’ve ever had to do before, nor is it anything I ever think I WILL have to, but in an economic climate where an employee can sue you for wrongful termination, it’s conceivable that there are circumstances when information about employee activities might be necessary. And again, notifying individuals that their activity may be monitored is key. It’s one thing to say, “I might be watching. Be aware.” It’s another to secretly spy.

My suggestion: Sell these devices via police precincts, at a markup, as a fundraiser for DV-related police training. Require record of who purchases them–a verifiable name and address ought to do nicely. That way, there’s a paper trail and court-admissible evidence if you’re stupid enough to use them for sinister purposes.

It’s tricky. As a DV survivor who was stalked for months, I wouldn’t wish my experiences on my worst enemy. But the truth is, abusers will find ways to obtain whatever information they can, in any circumstance. While I would have loved it if he couldn’t have tracked me via my cell phone, I’m fairly certain he would have found other creative ways to follow me if he hadn’t used that tactic. I don’t really know what the answer is…

And, while it’s hard to see a practical use for many of these items, some of that may be in the marketing that SkyMall does. After all, before I started working as a reporter, I NEVER would have been able to dream up a practical, legal, and necessary use for wire taps. It’s conceivable that there are excellent uses, security-wise or otherwise, for many of these devices that I just haven’t dreamt up, yet.

I’d lean toward strengthening laws that require consent in any environment where activities may be monitored, so that USING these devices illegally or unethically is enough to result in imprisonment. Had I been able to have my ex-husband arrested for tracking my with my cell phone, my ordeal would have ended in MUCH less time.

Not trying to be contrary. Just some thoughts…

Stuff that is available for police use should not be given to the general public. The general public is stupid and only bad things can come of it! And especially after you pointed out all of this!

xxx