government surveillance pros and cons
Do we really want to return to an East German model? Where should we draw the line? Join our debate on pros and cons of government surveillance and vote in our poll. Michael Shelden, author of Orwell: The Authorized Biography, told NPR earlier this month that todayssurveillancesociety is just like the book. A key point to the pro-NSA argument is the idea of freedom versus security. In a democratic state, the average law-abiding citizen will not be impacted by government surveillance efforts. In addition, its important to consider how the government is using the technology. 4. We should not be nave: the world is not a safe place. There are already documented cases of agents in the government taking advantage of the data that surveillance programs collect information about others. a wide audience and to keep on introducing new debates and features to improve your experience. At the end of the day, its important to consider both the pros and cons of government surveillance before taking a stance. These individuals feel that their privacy is being invaded in the name of National Security. It is unfortunate that individual privacy has been compromised, but the present situation has left us with no choice. I cant imagine how bad the situation would be if there were no public security cameras. When there is a miss from government surveillance activities, then the reaction tends to be an ever-closer analysis of the information that was collected already. Surveillance is, simply put, the observation and/or monitoring of a person. Alternative means: are other less costly means available? We can take care of your essay Proper editing and formatting Lets say a gunman appears and fires randomly. We will help you do it! While there are advantages of CCTV, there are disadvantages. The world is full of a variety of conversations that makes monitoring all of them an imprecise effort at best. Explore the dangers of coal mining and why it is important to be aware of the risks! There are no private lives, said Dick. Even in a democracy, it would not take much to sleepwalk into a situation where surveillance operations are abused (just look at the Watergate scandal!). In the United States, government surveillance efforts could collect your whole email account even if there is only one email that triggers the automated review systems. According to Sara Schwartz of the Huffington Post, the National Security Agency (NSA) has access to the metadata from all phone calls. Coming from the French word for "looking upon," the term encompasses not only visual observation but also the scrutiny of all behavior, speech, and actions. This is a typical argument used by governments and other groups to justify their spying activities. Surveillance cameras have become much more commonplace in recent times. Biomass: The renewable energy thats green, clean and here to stay! Todays technological capabilities take surveillance to new levels; no longer are spyglasses and "dropping" from the eaves of a roof necessary to observe individuals - the government can and does utilize methods to observe all the behavior and actions of people without the need for a spy to be physically present. Doing this means that the NSA has to spy on other countries and their leaders, often breaking the law in order to achieve its goals. Its important to keep a close eye on how the technology is being used to ensure that it is being used for its intended purposes. Why is natural gas soaring? drones that monitor people from the sky. It creates a society without privacy or freedom of thought. Invalidity: does the technique produce invalid results? Just as having a stranger stare at you for an extended period of time can be uncomfortable and hostile, it is no different from being under constant surveillance, except that surveillance is often done surreptitiously and at the behest of some authority. There are automated license plate readers that can be installed almost anywhere to track driving patterns in the city. A car tracker installed in your vehicle will not harm you nor will a bug installed in your phone. altercation saw a lighter-skinned man on the bottom during a fight that ensued. Human review: is there human review of machine generated results? But if one of those witnesses including Mr. Martin or Mr. Zimmerman had been wearing When we look back at the top-trending stories of the last decade, there are three in particular which stand out when looking at the issue of government surveillance: the death of Trayvon Martin, the rise and fall of Google Glass, and the release of information about the surveillance program called Prism. 2. The debate on government surveillance is one that will not end anytime soon. It can also lead the authorities to add even more surveillance to create additional data to sift through in the hopes that the real threats can be isolated from the false ones. This issue creates a conundrum for government surveillance. Unfair disadvantage: is the information used in such a way as to cause unwarranted harm or disadvantage to its subject? This type of search is completely lawful under the Constitution. PRISM replaced another mass Internet data mining program, the Terrorist Surveillance Program, which was launched by the US government after the 9/11 terrorist attacks but heavily criticized and considered illegal. Government surveillance breaks the fourth amendment by searching people's internet files and databases without a reason; the first amendment is also broken because people no longer have freedom of speech if the NSA is spying on them and what they say is being monitored. Its important to keep an open mind and consider both sides of the argument before taking a stance. It is an authoritarian way to govern without the presence of a dictator to direct traffic. Therefore, how to balance public safety and personal privacy needs to be considered further. Discover why natural gas is not renewable, but still a valuable energy source! Take, for example, when we are at home with the children versus when they are left unsupervised. Overall, the simple lack of control or limits on public camera use is one of the biggest problems. A key point to the pro-NSA argument is the idea of freedom versus security. In this article, well be exploring what they are and what they mean for the public. If a suspicious individual or individuals or items are seen in an area, the appropriate authorities can be contacted to move into the area before any damage is done or any crime is committed. Surveillance equipment can be installed almost anywhere. The type of, This secret government surveillance program was exposed to the public thanks to the leaks made by the NSA contractor, The classified information disclosed by Edward Snowden's. Your vote is anonymous. 5. Are there means for discovering violations and penalties to encourage responsible surveillant behavior? However, while there are some potential benefits to government surveillance, there are also some potential drawbacks. This outcome means that there will be more privacy invasions over time as AI and human investigators apply a mass-scrutiny policy to their review efforts. By understanding both the potential benefits and drawbacks and keeping a close eye on how the technology is being used, we can ensure that it is being used for its intended purposes and is not abused. In the discussion of pros and cons of surveillance cameras in public places, the key information is as follows: In a public surveillance cameras good or bad debate, the first question is whether the surveillance cameras in public places are an invasion of privacy. My name is Jennifer and I can't imagine my life without writing. Even if the goal is to spy on foreigners only, the huge volumes of data cannot help but to bring in information from email exchanges, photographs, social medial sharing, and conversations. Apparently the NSA surveillance program was not only used to collect intelligence for domestic affairs but also to collect data from foreign leaders and politicians. For example, the Boston marathon bombers were in a location where there were dozens of cameras yet they were never prevented or deterred form committing their terrorist act. When data is collected, whether such data remains used for its stated purpose after its collection has been called into question, even by government officials: the European Data Protection Supervisor has acknowledged that even when two databases of information are created for specific, distinct purposes, in a phenomenon known as 'function creep' they could be combined with one another to form a third with a purpose for which the first two were not built (eGov Monitor Weekly 2006). Obviously, no one is defending the right . Equality-inequality regarding availability and application: a) is the means widely available or restricted to only the most wealthy, powerful or technologically sophisticated? We have already seen innocent people being placed on watch lists, having their lives placed underneath the microscope of an investigation, and it occurs with ever-fewer pieces of evidence that back up the scope of what is happening. 6. Wikileaks new release of CIA hacking documents casts new doubts on the ethics of government approach to privacy protection. 8. Edward Snowden has been blamed for disclosing this mass surveillance system and. Eventually, it will be My phone is spying on me.. Create your account for free. The bombing at Boston Marathon is a good example. Is Edward Snowden a hero or a traitor? Discover why natural gas is the better choice for your energy needs! They can help solve crimes, despite not actually being able to prevent them. In addition, the government could implement a system of checks and balances to make sure that the technology is not being abused. However, it is a concern for multiple people that there is no law or regulation on how governments are able to use the programs. In that process, a fight broke out. Therefore, it is in the countrys best interest for the NSA to continue to be allowed to supply the president with the valuable information he needs to make the best decisions possible. If you research areas where cameras were installed a while ago, you will notice that crime levels are low. Information used for original vs. other unrelated purposes: is the personal information used for the reasons offered for its collection and for which consent may have been given and does the data stay with the original collector, or does it migrate elsewhere? But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.". Under FISA 702, the U.S. government can collect a massive quantity of detailed, sensitive, and intimate personal information about individuals from all over the world. And also, relevant authorities can monitor road conditions with the live surveillance cameras. Finally, government surveillance can help create a safer and more secure environment. Havea good time! On the surface, it's clear that surveillance of such scope and power violates the protection against unreasonable search and seizure as established in the Fourth Amendment. In todays world, public cameras can be extremely helpful. Surveillance misses lead to even more data being collected on people. In addition, allowing surreptitious surveillance of one form, even limited in scope and for a particular contingency, encourages government to expand such surveillance programs in the future. Is it acceptable for the greater good to have our online communications monitored? Why worry if you have nothing to hide? Do we want this kind of society? Moreover, any people in the area can be cleared as a precaution. In some cases, if there were no CCTV security camera systems in public places, there would be little or no evidence to convict the person of the crime and the individual may go free. Uncover the surprising truth about coal and its effect on the environment! However, the cameras are working accordingly. Ive been writing for five years and Im not going to stop! As new technologies emerge, its important to keep an eye on how they are being used and ensure that they are not being abused. At the same time thanks to him individual liberties may be now safer from government interevention. RepresentativeJames Your comment is being posted. Many different groups define appropriate bounds for surveillance in different manners. 9. They have their share of benefits and disadvantages, but they still prove helpful in making many neighborhoods safer. This could help protect peoples privacy and ensure that the government is only using the technology for its intended purposes. A much better approach is addressing the root causes of terrorism, and adopting effective counter-radicalisation strategies. Oneneighbor who was closest to the Are there better alternatives? If you feel this user's conduct is unappropriate, please report this comment and our moderaters will review its content and deal with this matter as soon as possible. Whenever there is a threat to human life that is predictable and eminent, then this technology can help to save lives. Hello! of that night might have been much clearer. How to balance public safety and personal privacy needs to be considered further argument is the idea freedom! Predictable and eminent, then this technology can help to save lives be:! And also, relevant authorities can monitor road conditions with the children versus when they are and what they and... 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