MuslimPro is an app that provides reminders for its 98 million international users for prayer times and also helps orient them towards Mecca with an in app compass, during Ramadan it gives recommendations to halal restaurants in the users area, informs them of when they can break their fast and more. The service that MuslimPro provides its users is invaluable for many practicing Muslims in their ability to observe their faith no matter where they are. The parent company of MuslimPro the Singapore based Bits Media has recently come under fire about their data collection and sales practices, notably for the sale of data to a company called X Mode who lists the US Military as one of their clients. Another one of their apps that is facing the same criticisims is popular Muslim dating app, Muslim Mingle.
For many of the customers this came not only as an unpleasant reminder of the nature of using free online platforms but also was viewed as yet another example of the United States government targeting and surveilling practicing Muslims both within and outside of the United States. Imam Omar Suleiman the founder of Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and a prominent Muslim Scholar stated “This is part of a wrong pattern of crackdowns and all sorts of violations of our civil liberties that have preyed on our most basic functions as Muslims.”
A few weeks back around a dozen members of Congress sent a letter to the Secretary of Defence and the Director of National Intelligence demanding to know the process used by the military in its purchasing of location data and also to ascertain whether or not any Americans were surveilled. The Democrat Senator of Oregon Ron Wyden tweeted, “Every single American has the right to practice their religion without being spied on...”
While the surveillance of American citizens by the government is already a present issue for many this particular case raises several questions regarding the religious freedom of Muslim Americans. The freedom to practice one's religion without undue interference by the government is a central part of the First Amendment and the Establishment Clause. For many who use this app there are several central concerns raised by their possible surveillance. For one, prayer and faith are considered by many a private affair, is it fair to them to be tracked for their observance of praying five times a day? In addition is it ethical for a company to be selling data concerning religion? Is it the right of the government to know your location each and every time an individual prays or follows their religious beliefs? Or does it place an undue burden on Muslim Americans knowing that the government is tracking them for no other reason then their faith? This could have the unintended consequence of making Muslim Americans feel intimidated and dissuaded from practicing a central part, for observant Muslims, of their faith.
While the purchasing of location data by the US Military poses some general ethical and legal quandaries for all, what sets this situation apart is the direct targeting of one particular religion. Islam is the second largest religion in the world but only represents about 1% of Americans or just under 3.5 million as of 2017. However, the Muslim population of the United States is one of the most targeted both by the government and the general population, Gallup Polls have shown that Islam is the least liked religion by the general United States population. Over the past 20 or so years not only has there been a rise in Islamophobia but the United States government has invested billions of dollars in the surveillance of the Muslim American population largely due to tensions following 9/11 and the subsequent conflicts in the Middle East, however little to nothing has resulted from that surveillence yet the government continues to place undue pressure on Americas Muslim population.
From my perspective, I wholeheartedly disagree with the purchasing of location data from MuslimPro. By targeting a minority religious population and surveilling the frequency with which they choose to pray and where I think the government not only entagles itself with the freedom with which people are able to practice their faith but also places an undue burden of stress and fear upon Muslim Americans. People should not have to fear government surveillance when they participate in their faith. Nor should a community that has been so targeted have their location tracked as they go about their daily business for no other reason than their religious convictions.
I agree with the author in this case, as it is clear that this app is helping those worship/practice their religion, thus is part of the guarantees of the Free Exercise Clause, which should not have excessive government surveillance. Further, I think neutrality is important in this case, as clearly it is targeting this religious minority group, and showing the true nature of Islamophobia. However, other religious groups do not have to contend with this behavior.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Julia over the sense of neutrality because it is evident that only those who identify as being Muslim are being spied on, not individuals of any other religion. The Senator of Oregon Ron Wyden makes a strong point when addressing the Free Exercise Clause when he tweeted, “Every single American has the right to practice their religion without being spied on...”. The First Amendment is supposed to protect minority groups from the majority, not allow the majority to spy on the minority.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that not only are these Muslim people being taken advantage off and having their information used without them knowing by the US government, but that it is disproportionately happening to them. This sort of outright discrimination is something that out first amendment should be able to protect us from. The app owners should not be able to sell this information.
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