FBI looking to access your social sites

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The FBI wants to be able to monitor your Facebook or e-mail accounts.

Technology is ever changing and the FBI says this is one way to keep up.

Many people put their lives on sites like Twitter and Facebook and for those things you don't want public, there's the private message option, or a simple e-mail.

It's those private features the FBI now wants to access.

AIC student Corey Newton told 22News he feels uneasy about "Big Brother" watching even though he says he has nothing to hide.

"It's creepy to us as people who follow the law but it also protects us in a way so it's pretty bittersweet," Newton said.

The FBI already has the ability to wiretap your landline phone or cell phone but as more people are communicating online than ever before, the FBI makes a case that it needs access to popular communication sites in order to keep up with the times and continue to be effective.

The FBI is asking internet communications companies to build a back door that would allow them to conduct investigations.

A court order would be required for any surveillance.

It's a proposal that's getting some resistance from those who think a social media "back door" can be intrusive or dangerous, while others see it as a potential safety measure.

"I feel if you're doing something wrong, they should have access to try and figure out what's going on it might cut down on crime because a lot of people put things on Facebook that are against the law," said Sarah Morin, AIC Sophomore.

This is just in the proposal phase and many experts agree, it's not an issue that will be resolved quickly.