Government Surveillance - 5539 Words

Government Surveillance Imagine a world where your every move was being monitored. A dark world where it is no secret who you are, where you have been and who you associate with; now include who you love, who you pray to and what you just ate for dinner. The word privacy doesn’t exist in such world and it is such world that we are heading to.â€Å"Big Brother is watching you!† This quote by George Orwell couldn’t have been truer. Every aspect of our lives is being sorted through as Big Data this very moment. Government surveillance has prevailed by the name of security. But, is government surveillance of internet digital communications like social networks, cell phone calls, text messages, and emails really a public service of security? Or†¦show more content†¦Government surveillance in the past was not a big threat due to the limitations on technology; however, in the current day, it has become an immense power for the government. Taylor, author of a book on Electronic Surveil lance supports, A generation ago, when records were tucked away on paper in manila folders, there was some assurance that such information wouldn t be spread everywhere. Now, however, our life stories are available at the push of a button (Taylor 111). With more and more Americans logging into social media cites and using text-messaging devices, the more providers of metadata the government has. In her journal â€Å"The Virtuous Spy: Privacy as an Ethical Limit†, Anita L. Allen, an expert on privacy law, writes, â€Å"Contemporary technologies of data collection make secret, privacy invading surveillance easy and nearly irresistible. For every technology of confidential personal communication†¦there are one or more counter-technologies of eavesdropping† (Allen 1). Being in the middle of the Digital Age, we have to be much more careful of the kinds of information we put in our digital devices. Some Americans may argue that the government surveillance programs target only foreigners, that we, as Americans, are exempted from this type of scrutiny. They are even reassured by President Barrack Obama in an interview on Charlie Rose: If you areShow MoreRelatedEssay On Government Surveillance1529 Words   |  7 Pagesorganizations especially the government constantly watches each and every one of our moves. By definition, surveillance is any systematic focus on any information in order to influence, manage, entitle, or control those whose information is collected. (Bennet et Al, 6). From driving to the shopping mall to withdrawing money from the ATM machine, Canadians are being watched constantly. With Canada’s commitment to advance technology and infrastructure in the 1960s, government surveillance is much easier andRead MoreGovernment Surveillance : A Controversial Issue On Terrorism853 Words   |  4 Pagesevents of September 11th, government surveillance has skyrocke ted to some of the most advanced programs seen today; the government has the ability to intercept almost anybody’s internet activities, personal messages, and phone calls. 9/11 brought about the implementation of the Patriot Act, new NSA programs, and a new found â€Å"war on terrorism.† This has become a controversial issue on whether these programs violate Americans’ civil rights. Future government surveillance can be predicted to only becomeRead MoreTaking a Look at Government Surveillance1776 Words   |  7 PagesGovernment Surveillance The primary goal of the government since its founding has been to ensure the safety of citizens. It has developed an array of methods, procedures, and systems to achieve that goal. Throughout the years there has been some form of criticism regarding its methods. The most recent cause for public disapproval and concern stems from government surveillance brought to the light by former contractor of the National Security Agency (NSA), Edward Snowden. Snowden has brought attentionRead MoreIs Government Surveillance a Violation of the Fourth Amendment1245 Words   |  5 PagesThe government is always watching to ensure safety of their country, including everything and everyone in it. Camera surveillance has become an accepted and almost expected addition to modern safety and crime prevention (â€Å"Where† para 1). Many people willingly give authorization to companies like Google and Facebook to make billions selling their personal preferences, interests, and data. Canada particip ates with the United States and other countries in monitoring national and even global communicationsRead More Government Surveillance of Internet Activity Essay3550 Words   |  15 PagesGovernment Surveillance of Internet Activity 1. Background Back to late 1980s in China, some young people in college or research institute had a chance to surf the Internet through a fairly low speed, roughly routed World Wide Web connection. But a big surprise for them was that the Internet was a real freeway, a freeway escaping from strict government control, a freeway for people who wanted to see but couldn’t see and who wanted to say but couldn’t say. Stepping into the 21st centuryRead MoreMedia And Government Surveillance And Privacy Issues1271 Words   |  6 PagesThe Economist, Nov. 16, 2013. Media and government surveillance and privacy issues With everybody having a smartphone, access to Internet everywhere and frequently using other technologies to communication, there is easier to record anything and everything you see and share it. In some ways this is a positive thing, but it could also have severe consequences in a bad way. Wherever you go there are security cameras recording you, e-mails are under surveillance, your phone calls are being listened toRead More Government Surveillance in the Digital Age Essay2365 Words   |  10 PagesGovernment Surveillance in the Digital Age Imagine walking along a busy street in the middle of a sunny day. Also imagine that someone is following you around, videotaping everything you do. Disturbing thought? Even more disturbing is the fact that the United States government is already doing this, and its perfectly legal. According to Robert Trigaux, a reporter for the St. Petersburg times, until August of 2014, in Ybor City, Florida, the Tampa Police Department used fourty-six surveillanceRead MoreSurveillance And The Privacy Of The United States Government Surveillance1497 Words   |  6 PagesIn today’s society, countless surveillance methods are in place. These can range from simple cameras to high-tech home monitoring. Times have changed from the large cameras of the 1900s. Cameras can now be as small as a pin’s needle. Full scale home protection systems use video surveillance to watch over the home 24 hours a day. While this is considered a great advancement in technology, the privacy of the people is a concern. Government surveillance is needed due to the terrorist threats,Read MoreGovernment Surveillance Of The United States975 Words   |  4 PagesOver the past few years, government surveillance in the United States has become a widely debated issue with two completely d ifferent sides. The National Security Agency, a government agency known for it’s efforts in spying and surveillance, has been at the center of this issue since it’s founding in the 1950’s. The Cold War had just begun and the United States government was doing anything they could to find potential terrorists and communists. In fact, many famous people including Einstein wereRead MoreTaking a Look at Government Surveillance2224 Words   |  9 PagesGovernment Surveillance Government Surveillance, a way that the government says that will keep you safe from foreign dangers like terrorist attacks, espionage, and perhaps a international war. However you have to sacrifice your private life, and business for increased protection and surveillance. Government surveillance, defined by dictionary.com as a noun that states â€Å" Close observation or supervision maintained over a person, group, etc, especially one in custody or under suspicion†(Merriam-webster