During the COVID-19 pandemic, local, state, and federal government agencies embarked on a massive campaign to violate the constitutional rights of Americans, including those of faith. Prominent among this constitutional destruction is the now-imposed COVID-19 fine of $1.2 million (initially $3.87 million) after being targeted by an invasive and warrantless government geofencing operation. Calvary Chapel San Jose.

Geofencing is a location-based tool used by governments to track individuals through cellular data. This tool is typically used in police criminal investigations, where the government must request a warrant, but warrant requests are limited in time and scope.

Santa Clara County used this tool To Calvary Chapel San Jose, under the auspices of a study of what they call a “super-spread,” that the county could not trace one confirmed COVID-19 case originating from this church. fact), it is exploiting it against them in an ongoing effort. Collect fines from the church. This geo-fencing operation effectively amounted to a targeted sting operation by the government against church members with no criminal charges, and was carried out for two years without any oversight, boundaries or restrictions. .

This blatant invasion of privacy and targeting is not only a violation of the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but sets a terrible precedent if left unchecked. As it stands, Santa Clara County effectively claims that: They call it research, but any level of government can target and spy on individuals and groups at any time, for any reason, for any period of time, and if they so choose, they can use the data they collect to can be used for the individual or group. This is not just un-American. It’s very Orwellian.

The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution requires the government to obtain search and seizure warrants to protect the privacy and property of Americans, and for those warrants to be issued, there are strict criteria determined by a judge. stipulated that must be satisfied. Warrant-free fishing expeditions, aimed specifically at coercing individuals where, when, and how to exercise and express their beliefs and beliefs, do not fall within the powers of any level of government and are the foundations of our country. It is an act that goes against the concept of built.

All Americans should pay attention to the Calvary Chapel San Jose lawsuit. Your rights and freedoms depend on this lawsuit and the precedent set here. We need to understand that increasing technological capabilities need not limit personal freedom. Tools like geo-fencing can be effective in criminal investigations with the right warrants and parameters, but conducting large-scale geo-fencing operations against churchgoers is a serious threat to the Chinese Communist Party’s “social credit” in China. more reflective of the use of technology to enforce “scores”. In the United States, the purpose of government is to secure and protect the inalienable rights of its citizens. It is not about spying on the American people and forcing their own political and social agenda.

If California counties can spy on churches in this manner without limit, how can the federal government weaponize the Justice Department in similar ways against political organizations, conventions, and candidates not currently in power? can be stopped? Should local and state governments be able to monitor gun clubs and gun stores in the name of surveys to gather data on law-abiding gun owners?

Americans should be upset and concerned that government officials go to great lengths to violate the rights and freedoms they have sworn to protect.

Our organization represents disenfranchised churches and Americans across the country and works to curb the government’s ability to continue this type of egregious excess. Our government should have focused its efforts on protecting our rights rather than targeting churchgoers across the country and undermining our rights during a national emergency.

At a time of new global emergency and when Americans need their faith most, we will not allow governments to impede the ability of Americans to worship in fellowship.

Mariah Gondeiro is Vice President and General Counsel. defender of faith and liberty.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of The Daily Caller.