Surveillance, which means to be watched or observed, is an important way that one person or group can exercise some amount of control over other individuals or groups.
Recall the father's actions in The Road. He regularly used binoculars to scan the landscape and to look for any signs of people or movement. If he saw people at a distance, then the father avoided contact.
Government agencies also use surveillance to exercise control over the population -- this includes domestic populations and international populations. People are closely observed as they pass through security at the airport or when they go through a sobriety road check or when the National Security Agency uses illegal wiretapping to watch people inside the US.
Here are some of the ways that the government uses different kinds of surveillance to exercise control over different populations:
1. The US government and other governments around the world request that Google provide user data. Here is a nice graphic that illustrates the frequency of requests.
WASHINGTON — The Federal Bureau of Investigation is giving significant new powers to its roughly 14,000 agents, allowing them more leeway to search databases, go through household trash or use surveillance teams to scrutinize the lives of people who have attracted their attention.The F.B.I. soon plans to issue a new edition of its manual, called the Domestic Investigations and Operations Guide, according to an official who has worked on the draft document and several others who have been briefed on its contents. The new rules add to several measures taken over the past decade to give agents more latitude as they search for signs of criminal or terrorist activity.3. Some members of Congress (not all members of Congress) are working to pass laws that would empower certain domestic police agencies to gather "geolocation data" -- that is, the information stored on a person's GPS and cell phone that tracks their movement. This would enable the FBI to gather that information.
4. The FBI uses GPS devices to track peoples' movement. Without a warrant, FBI agents secretely attach a GPS tracking device to a person's bumper and monitor their movement.
5. City governments also conduct surveillance. Major metropolitan areas like Washington, DC, New York City, and Chicago have extensive surveillance systems that enable police agents to monitor peoples' activity. Chicago has 10,000 cameras placed around the city, for instance.
Here are my questions for you to consider and thoughtfully comment on:
What do you think?
Surveillance is an important aspect of modern government. Does that mean all government surveillance is justified? For reasons of security, should the government be able to conduct as much surveillance as deemed necessary? Or, can there be too much governmental surveillance? If there can be too much governmental surveillance, where is the limit? Who should be responsible for drawing that limit -- and saying this is the proper amount of surveillance and we will accept no more? And, what are the potential risks to the population if the government collects information on all aspects of peoples' lives? What is the value of having a part of our lives that are outside of governmental surveillance?
I think that government surveillance is important because it allows criminals to be tracked and witness-less crimes to be caught on tape for evidence. As long as you are not participating in anything illegal you shouldn't have to worry about what the government sees you do. I think cameras in dressing rooms, bathrooms, or looking in people's bedrooms would be taking it to far. I trust that the government wouldn't leak information about your moral wrongdoings, but if you were involved in illegal activity you should be caught. Plus, if more people knew that they were being watched constantly or were in fear of the "panopticon" maybe people would behave a little better.
ReplyDeletePaige Albert PSCI 100.03
Michael Ryan Rodgers PSCI 100.03
DeleteI disagree with this argument. I have always believed in Thomas Jefferson's idea that people should strike fear in their government, not the other way around. If people allow the government to watch their every move they invite them to dictate their every action. The idea that people would act better if they knew every action was being watched, at least to myself, is a frighting one. Every person should have the freedom of privacy. I, personally, don't trust to government, and do not want to give them the chance to leak any information about me. In my opinion, giving the government more power is a bad idea.
I have to disagree with you on some aspects. I feel like a certain amount of surveilance is a good thing. If the people are in fear of the government seeing their wrong doing, then they will peer police themselves and in turn would create a safer atmosphere for the whole community.
DeleteBut on the otherhand, I do agree that people have the right to their privacy. Surveilance should be limited to public areas. Which would provide both the people safety but also their sense of privacy. And as far as tracking your car with GPS, without a warrant, I say go for, if you're driving on public roads and your activity is under suspicion, then the government should be allowed to watch you.
PSCI 100.03
I completely agree with you on everything especially about the panopticon. Everyone knows that if you break the law than your bound to go to jail but most people don't grasp that while they are breaking the law.
DeleteMcKena Munson PSCI 100.03
I think that government surveillance is important for our country, but too much surveillance is a bad thing. Although surveillance plays a huge role in keeping our nation safe, what about the right to privacy? There is such a thing as too much surveillance. For instance, I would feel that my privacy was being violated if the federal government deemed it constitutional to put cameras in every American household. A home is where you feel the safest, and the government should never be able to take that away from you. As the highest authority in this country, the government needs to set a limit on how much surveillance is acceptable. Instead of continuing to add more surveillance, why not improve the surveillance already in place?
ReplyDeletePSCI 100.02
I am in the middle when it comes to government surveillance. Yes of course I believe that we should have a right to our privacy, but I want my country to be protected as well. It would be nice for us to believe that we are not being watched like we're on the "Truman Show", but in reality that may not be the case. People always complain about the government invading their privacy, and doing too much surveillance, then when an attack on the U.S happens that probably could have been prevented, they complain that the government didn't do enough surveillance. Should we only limit surveillance to public areas, or no. It would make sense to make the general population feel better, but these days the most illegal activities are going on in people's home's. Plotting of terroist attacks, drugs, prositution, sex trafficking are all being taken place in the privacy of one's home. So should the government not take the risk of invading one's privacy if it means that lives will be saved. I am a naive when it comes to government surveillance and I am quite sure that as an American citizen the government has secretely surveyed me, because that's what they do. They watch over everyone. I don't make a big deal of it because I am not doing anything wrong and I've never had a government official knock on my door, but some people do not care either way. The government will never put a limit on their surveillance of American citizens.
ReplyDeleteCher'ie L. Dixon
PSCI 100.02
MWF 9:10-10:00
Carlos Canino PSCI 100.2
ReplyDeleteI dont really have any issue with gov't surveillance. If you think about your normal life day to day can you really think of anything that would be invading of your privacy? So what someone or the gov't knows when i buy a pack of gum. Usually those who scream about surveillance have something to hid or cover, thats my opinion of course. Many people dont mind the beneifits of surveillance ie security, but dont really want to hear the price to do that. I personally dont have anything to hid, as long as you live a normal life and follow the laws you have nothing to be concerned about.
I do not believe all government surveillance is justified. The government needs to be limited not only in surveillance but all aspects. I believe the government will continue to gain power and be able to do as they please until enough people get fed up with it. Now, where the line will be drawn, I have no clue. I, myself, do not believe I have been effected by the surveillance to a point of action. I also don't know the extent that I'm being watched. If I did, I'm sure I would not be happy about it.
ReplyDeleteCody Barrett
PSCI 100.02
I completely agree with you on this. I think the amount of surveillance that the government does is a bit out of control and I think that there needs to be limitations on what they watch over. I believe that it will only get worse as time goes on and people really won't do anything or won't even be able to do anything about it.
DeleteAmber McFadden
PSCI 100.02
I find that government surveillance is a good way to monitor people and make our country safer. When people do not know they are being watched and to what extent they are being watched, they won't have their guard up and they will possibly let information out that government can then act on and protect others. However, there should be a line drawn as people do have a right to privacy. What happens in someones home is private for instance and should only be monitored if someone in the home asks for it. Otherwise, I find that surveillance is important and that we shouldn't mind if we are not doing anything wrong.
ReplyDeletei think that most surveilliance is good. It's always nice in case something happens, such as theft, rape, murder- any type of criminal duty that can be proved through surveillance makes it much easier and faster. Also, as we spoke about it class, it makes people more susceptible to not doing things due to self poilicing. If you know you are being watched in a store, most likely you won't steal something, or kill someone. I believe that in a great deal, it prevents multiple counts of criminal acts.I believe that the line is drawn through the public versus people's personal, private lives. We are each condoned to our own personal lives and surveillance should not have a part in that. The line, I think, should be drawn by the government. The potential risks of collecting all aspects of people's lives would be that no one would ever enjoy life. Nor would anyone have a private life. I mean, who wants to be under surveillance while having sex? I'm sure noone.
ReplyDeleteAshlee Barrett PSCI 100.02
I think that yes we should have government surveillance for safety precautions like at airports and for security reasons, but I dont think that it is okay for the government to be able to scan every little detail of our lives without our permission, how is that justified? Thats invasion of privacy without our consent, which is not okay.
ReplyDeleteCarissa Pearrell MWF PSCI sec:100.02 910-1000
I think that it is stupid and good idea at the same time. Yes the safety aspect is great and they are working on keeping us safer but also no its stupid because it's not fair to the rest of us who are being watched to have that kind of information tracked about us for someone elses mistakes and actions. I feel that everyone some form of privacy and that seems to eliminate that.
ReplyDeleteColin Barry
PSCI 100.03
No, not all government surveillance is justified. It is hard to say what is justifiable and what is not because we only know what the government tells us. The government would alter the reasons that would explain why they have surveillance on a certain person. I believe that with each advancement in technology that is “new” to the public, the government has had it for a few years and has found ways to use it to their advantage. Today’s generation loves and relies on technology too much to refuse to use it. There can’t be a line drawn to say where the government can and cannot do surveillance until they come clean with everything that they do. And since that will never happen, the limit will continue to move higher and higher until either the general population has had enough or until we do not have a “safety zone” anymore.
ReplyDeleteSarah Myers, Section 100.03
I disagree with government surveillance for the most part. I believe they should be allowed to in public areas but as far as wire tapping and tracking where you go through gps should not be allowed without a warrent. This breaches our right to privacy and when the goverment gets thier hands involved with every aspect of daily life is when things start to go wrong.
ReplyDeleteNot all government surveillance is justified. I think surveillance is a good thing is public places such as airports for security purposes but outside of public places without a warrant should not be allowed. Wire tapping and tracking a persons movement through GPS violates our privacy. The government is taking its power too far by invading on the personal lives of the citizens.
ReplyDeleteJena Wright
Section 100.3
TR 12:25-1:40
I do belive that government survelliance is a good thing, but at the same time, it is not all justified. Survellience in airports or places where security is absolutely necessary is completely justified, but tacking our every move without permission is not justified at all. there should definitely be alimit on what is watched, but I feel like if anything, the governemnt will start monitoring us more.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that surveillance is a very important part of our government because it keeps the people doing right. If they are aware that someone is always watching they will act accordingly but, I don’t think all government surveillance is justified but, is justice in the United States every really just anymore? I think going through peoples trash and putting GPS’s on peoples cars is just an invasion of the privacy we all thought as American’s we were granted. I think that we should draw the limitations between what is just protocol and what is a general invasion of what’s mine. We can do and say what we want to a certain extent without the government’s involvement. It would be beneficial to American’s to be able to do at least something without some government surveillance. All though some would agree some would say privacy is already dead and we just have to deal with and accept our transparent lives.
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe that we need surveillance in our lives. Imagine if there were no type of surveillance. It's like we discussed in class; if you know that you are being watched than you are more likely to not do anything wrong in fear of being caught. This surveillance does protect us. Too much surveillance would be like having cameras in dressing rooms or bathrooms but, as far as I know, we don't.
ReplyDeleteMcKena Munson PSCI 100.03
Surveillance is a very important thing to keep us safe in the world. We do not realize it but many attacks and stuff are stopped because our government has an eye on many things. I do not think that the level of surveillance we have now is too over the top. It's not like we have cameras set up in our homes or in public bathroom stalls. That would be way too much. The government puts surveillance into practice in order to protect us, not to entertain themselves. I am happy with the level that we have, I think it is what we need in order to be safe.
ReplyDeleteI believe that government surveillance is good and a key part of keeping the society on the correct path. However there is such thing as too much surveillance. As we discussed in class, each of us develop a sense of self policing. We know what is right from wrong, and we know when we are being watched or when we could potenially be caught. By knowing this we form somewhat into how we are expected to act. We need to keep strong surveillance though to keep citizens feeling safe. I think that publically putting cameras and police patrol keeps a sense of comfort because we feel secure by these actions. I believe the level of surveillance at this time is a good amount and shouldn't be tampered with in any way.
ReplyDeleteAngela Raco
TR 12:25-1:40 100.03
I agree. I feel like to know that we are kind of being "looked out for" in a sense lets us feel like we have a safety net around us.
DeleteI do believe that, while national security is important and some surveillance should be implemented, I do believe there is definitely such a thing as TOO much surveillance. When it comes to things like tapping phones or something, I believe that is taking it a step too far. I think at that point it's just an invasion of privacy. I know that we want to be safe, but I think this is just paranoia and too much. I believe that surveillance and self-policing is important, but I don't think that every aspect of our lives should be monitored by Big Brother.
ReplyDeleteVeronica J. Victor TR 12:25-1:40 100.03
Even though all this seems a little harsh, I feel as if having this kind of protection might help our police industry out greatly. If people were to always do good things at all times we would not have to have this type of protection. But in reality there are some really bad people out there and if it means that the government has to reach to this kind of extent then so be it. I feel like the only way that a device would be put on your phone or the bumper of someones car is if there was a desired need to do so. If the government feels like that have to go to that amount of extent on an individual then I feel like theres a reason because of it. Some potential risks might include indivduals feeling like they are living in "fear" or feel like they are living a life where they are always watched. Sometimes it is nice to know that we have some type of protection that is watching out for our safety. Some areas may need a lot more assistence than others because of the increased crime and gang rate. If this is what it takes to limit crime or to catch someone who might harm others in the community then I think I'm okay with that.
ReplyDeleteMariah Bacon
MWF 910-10
The main problem with excessive surveillence is simply the lack of privacy. When almost everything that a person does is monitered, they not only become obedient, but also devious. If you moniter a person for half the day or more, he or she will probably become a little stressed. They will be on their best behaviour while they're being monitored, but this will end with the monitoring. In a lot of ways, it becomes like the old medeival system that we talked about, where if you do something wrong, you are punished, rather than trying to reform them. The place where I speed the most when I'm driving is down this big hill near my house. There is a speeding camera at the top of the hill, and the speed limit is very slow. As soon as I pass it I alway gun it and fly down the hill, because I don't like being watched. I really rarely go more than five mile over anywhere else on the road, but the fact that I can't because of a stupid camera makes me really speed as soon as i'm out of sight. Cameras don't teach people how to be good citezens; they teach citezens where and when they can get around the rules.
ReplyDeleteI think that their should be some governement surveillence but not where you have no privacy what so ever. People like feeling safe so they should have surveillence in airports, banks, places where their is a high risk of crime. We shouldn't be monitered everywhere else that invades our privacy. It's getting to the point where we are going to have no privacy at all. Besides some people aren't going to just start behaving just because they know they are being watched. For example their are cameras all over highschools but that doesn't stop kids from skipping class or getting into fights, so how useful are those cameras anyway.
ReplyDeleteMegan Hart mwf 9:10- 10
We are getting to a point where the government is doing all of these things in the name of security and protection that, when I think about these things, part of me feels that it is sketchy. It's possible that there is an agenda behind all of this that isn't quite what is being promoted. Surveillance IS important because it does help keep us safe and it helps to catch criminals and stop criminal activity, however I think that the government may be using this strategy trying to take control over every aspect of our lives and not in a way that would make me comfortable. I see this situation in a way that is not as common with people, which could sound like paranoia to some people, however I consider the possibility that certain things like facebook, twitter, youtube, and all these ideas designed to "express yourself" to the world are purposely created to watch our every move. Surveillance does have its advantages and positive roles, but we should question where the line merges into the government going too far. Hey, just trying to post this comment, I was asked by Google to enter my phone number to help my account security.
ReplyDeleteSam Bennett PSCI 100.02
I believe that there is a thin line drawn right now between what's enough and what is to much surveillance by the government. They tell us that what they do is to keep us safe so of course no one questions it but how do we really know? The government does things that we are not aware of all the time and with all the advances in technology we have made, who knows what kind of surveillance really goes on.
ReplyDeleteI think that some surveillance is good, I do not have a problem being video taped in stores and while I am driving because I believe that these forms of surveillance only help to keep citizens in line and catch those that break the rules. However I am concerned about the federal governemt that wiretapes unlawfully and unchecked, I believe that the officials who want to do the surveillance should have to go through the court system and get permission from a judge. Too much surveillance can lead to too much government power. The people should control the government it should not be that we give the government so much power that they control our every action. I believe that it is a constant battle to keep our government in check and maintain a level of privacy in our lives.
ReplyDeleteHow can we keep people sane? or how can the government ensure security for its citizens? 9/11 was a tragic event that really affected the lives of many Americans so i do believe surveillance has good value because it is a good way to protect our country from possible terrorists attacks. But sometimes too much surveillance can affect some peoples lives because they will start to believe that its taking away some their rights that make them free as a U.S citizen. Surveillance is good until it starts making citizens feel uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteI feel like not all government surveillance is justified. But there are good reason for not letting the public know what they actually do. If we knew what all the did in terms of their ways of security i feel like some people would go crazy. But keeping it quiet is a good thing to the extent that if the "bad guys" know what we would do, they could use that to their advantage. Its all a secret for a reason though we as people are curious, sometimes people just can't handle the truth.
ReplyDeleteJordan Rodriguez PSCI 100.02
Surveillance is essential to security in any community or nation. How ever, there is an extent to which the government can invade privacy and cross limitations that should be set. If someone, or even a group of people have a history of violent or disruptive acts, then by all means they should watched carefully, but the citizens who are innocent and simply playing by the rules, they should not have a authoritative figure above them, virtually keeping them in a cage.
ReplyDeleteC.J. Davis TR 12:25-1:40 100.03
I think the government steps over the boundary line in alot of areas this is one. Yes they should monoter all areas where alot of people gather because people who plan to kill usually look for areas like that so its easy to kill alot at once. Trains airports big citys yes I definitely think so. As far as monotering people and doing illegal stuff like you say above no. I do not agree with that and I think Someone should be in charge to put a stop to that because as they say we are a "free country". If they keep it up I believe people will start rebel then this country will have another big problem on its hands.
ReplyDeleteDavid Gladden T-TH 12:25-1:40 100.03
No there can not be too much governmental surveillance. I believe that they should be allowed to do anything they need to, to keep us safe. As far as cameras in bathrooms or anything like that, well that would be too much for sure.
ReplyDeleteKellyn Butler
PSCI 100.02
I feel that surveillance is needed but sometimes there is too much in our society like the movie eagle eye is a good example of what could happen because we have alot of surveillance.
ReplyDeleteJordan Kaufman
PSCI 100.02
M-W-F 9:10
I completely agree with you Mariah. I think that the government should do whatever needs to be done to limit the crime around here. People are getting away with more than they should these days.
ReplyDeleteAshlea McKEnzie MWF 910-10
I believe that our government can not use too much surveillance. The purpose of the surveillance is too keep us safe and secure. Those who are opposed to the government and their surveillance tactiques must be doing something sketchy. If they followed all the laws and did everything they were supposed to do, they would be worry free.
ReplyDeletePaul Hvozdovic
PSCI 100.02
I feel that government surveillance is needed in our society, but there is limits to how much should be used. When it comes to government property, businesses and other public areas surveillance provides security that is acceptable to most. Wiretapping, when used correctly, can help to gather evidence on criminals and take them off the streets to provide security. When surveillance is used not in these ways and forced upon people and organizations such as Google, I feel it is wrong and a invasion of privacy. There are times when surveillance is a benefit to all but the government tends to surpasses the limits only to benefit themselves. This is more control than surveillance, the government being able to document where and when you have been somewhere, or what and how much you bought is taking it too far. there needs to be some organization in place to regulate the use of government surveillance to give it some sense of being "ethical."
ReplyDeleteAnthonie Jefferson
MWF- 9:10-10:00