The Naked Truth/Jamala Rogers
When Abortion Rights Collide with Privacy Rights
Two important issues recently bumped heads. It’s a good bet that this kind of encounter won’t be the last. Facebook turned over direct chats between a mother and daughter about an abortion. This is yet another example to those using social media platforms that you have no rights to the information you share. You essentially give up your privacy when you voluntarily participate in these social networks.
In Nebraska, abortion is illegal after 20 weeks — this was the law even before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Jessica Burgess and her daughter face criminal charges of illegal abortion and disposal of the body. Burgess had provided her then 17-year-old daughter with abortion pills that led to a miscarriage. The two have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Nebraska police served the social media corporation with a warrant a few months ago as part of their investigation into the illegal abortion. In addition to the digitized conversations, six smartphones and seven laptops were confiscated. Facebook would later claim that there was no mention that the subpoena was related to an abortion investigation. And what? Would the company had refused to comply with law enforcement if they had known the full nature of the case?
Facebook has a little over two billion subscribers. Its net worth is $528 billion. Facebook has come under fire for how it deals with all the data collected from those who use its services.
“We don’t sell data to anyone,” founder Mark Zuckerberg once testified before Congress. That was double-talk. While Facebook doesn’t sell its data, it has a long-standing sweetheart deal with other information companies. In exchange for sharing (not selling) data, its co-conspirators help to generate new users for Facebook and increase advertising sales. Pretty slick.
Readers may recall that one of these cozy and covert relationships was used in the interests of Donald Trump. Cambridge Analytica, linked to Trump, had acquired data on as many as 87 million Facebook users with the sole mission of exploiting social media activity to influence Trump’s 2016 campaign. The breach set off the worst crisis in Facebook’s history. While its stock plunged, the company’s practices were put under the spotlight by regulators, lawmakers, users and watchdogs. Facebook promised to clean up its act and tighten up its privacy policies.
Facebook wants to look like it has taken the higher ground, that it’s a law-abiding company cooperating with authorities in the investigation of a crime. Its hands are still dirty. It has joined hands in a repressive chokehold on abortion rights put into play by extremists who have criminalized a woman’s body. A woman’s agency over her reproductive rights has been set back fifty years.
Jessica Burgess faces three felonies and two misdemeanors. Her daughter has been certified as an adult and was charged with a felony and two misdemeanors. They are looking at four years of prison if convicted.
The Burgess criminal case would have been made more difficult to prosecute save for Facebook’s collaboration with authorities. The outcome of this case bears watching because the implications are grave and far-reaching both for abortion rights and for privacy rights.
Tips to Save Energy
From Madison Gas and Electric Company (MGE)
Heating and cooling are the largest energy users in our homes. By making smart choices and practicing simple tips, you can manage your energy use and costs.
Easy Ways to Save Energy
- Set your thermostat for one temperature when you're home and another when you're away to maximize energy savings. The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the less energy you'll use.
- If you haven't already, consider installing a programmable or smart thermostat. Smart thermostats can be controlled remotely, learn your preferred settings and automatically schedule temperature changes. Eligible MGE customers can take advantage of a $50 cashback incentive from FOCUS ON ENERGY® for purchasing a qualified ENERGY STAR® smart thermostat. Get more details at focusonenergy.com/smart.
- Lock up. Don't just shut your windows, lock them as well. This step can be overlooked but is important. The locking mechanism activates a seal that helps to keep the air you cooled inside your home.
- Keep your water heater temperature set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit and use cold water to wash clothes. Also, remember to run your washer on full loads! If you go on vacation, switch your water heater to vacation mode.
There's a lot to understand about controlling heating and cooling in your home. MGE is available to provide tips and answer your questions about saving energy and money. Contact MGE's energy experts by email at AskExperts@mge.com or by calling (608) 252-7117 Monday through
Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
